What is Carbon? | Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts
What is Carbon?
Carbon is one of the most important elements for life on planet Earth. It forms more compounds than any other element and forms the basis of all plant and animal life. Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass and the second most abundant element in the human body. Carbon is constantly circulating in the Earth’s oceans, plant life, animal life, and atmosphere.
Characteristics and Properties
Carbon is found on Earth in three different allotropes including amorphous, graphite, and diamond. Isotopes are materials made of the same element, but their atoms fit together in different ways. Each carbon allotrope has different physical properties.
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Of its diamond isotope, carbon is the hardest known in nature. It also has the highest thermal conductivity of all the elements. The diamond is transparent. Graphite, on the other hand, is one of the softest materials and has a gray-black color. Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. Amorphous carbon is usually black in color and is used to describe coal and soot.
One of the key characteristics of carbon is its ability to form long molecular chains by bonding with other carbon atoms. Carbon also has the highest melting point of all the elements.
Highlights of Carbon:
| Symbol | C |
| Atomic Number | 6 |
| Atomic Weight | 12.011 |
| Classification | Nonmetal |
| Phase at Room Temperature | Solid |
| Density | amorphous: 1.8 to 2.1, diamond: 3.515, graphite: 2.267 grams per cm cubed |
| Melting Point | 3550°C, 6442°F |
| Boiling Point | 4200°C, 7600°F |
| Sublimation Point (graphite) | 3642°C, 6588°F |
| Discovered by | Carbon has been known about since ancient times |
Where is Carbon found on Earth?
Carbon is found everywhere on earth. It is a major element in many rock formations such as limestone and marble. It is found in isotropic forms of diamond, graphite and amorphous carbon throughout the world.
Carbon is also found in many compounds, including carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and dissolved in oceans and other large bodies of water. The hydrocarbons that make up many fuels such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum also contain carbon.
Carbon is found in all life forms. It makes up 18% of the human body by mass.
How is Carbon used today?
Carbon is used in one way or another in almost every industry in the world. It is used as a fuel in the form of coal, methane, and crude oil (used to produce gasoline). It is used to manufacture all types of materials, including plastics and alloys such as steel (a combination of carbon and iron). It is even used to make black ink for printers and paints.
Graphite is commonly used in the manufacture of batteries, brakes, and lubricants. It is also used to make the writing (black) part of the pencil.
Diamonds are used to make fine jewelry and are considered the most valuable gemstone. Diamonds are also used for their hardness in cutting tools and precision tools.
How was Carbon discovered?
People have known about carbon as a substance since ancient times. French scientist Antoine Lavoisier determined that the diamond consisted of carbon in 1772.
Where did Carbon get its name?
Carbon gets its name from the Latin word “carbo” which means charcoal or coal.
Isotopes
There are two naturally occurring stable isotopes of carbon, carbon-12 and carbon-13. Carbon 12 makes up almost 99% of the existing carbon on Earth. There are 15 known carbon isotopes. Carbon-14 is used to date carbon-based materials in “carbon dating”.
Interesting Facts about Carbon
Life on Earth is often referred to as “carbon-based life”.
The fourth recently discovered allotropic form of carbon is called a fullerene.
It is known to form nearly 10 million different compounds.
It easily forms compounds due to the covalent bonding of its four valence electrons.
Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe and generally the fourth most abundant element in stars.
Carbon stars are stars whose atmospheres contain more carbon than oxygen.
Plants obtain carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
Carbon chains form the basis of complex molecules like DNA.