carbon [C]

Introduction

From the Latin carbo meaning coal; (1789)

Occurrence

• found native as
  • diamond or graphite
  • a constituent of coal, petroleum & asphalt
  • limestone & other carbonates
  • organic compounds
  • artificially in varying degrees of purity esp as
    • carbon black
    • lampblack
    • activated carbon
    • charcoal
    • coke
• a new molecular allotrope C60 or buckminister-fullerene was discovered in 1985

Characteristics

• non metallic chiefly tetravalent solid element
• graphite is black or silver-black
• diamond comes in various colors

Uses

• essential component of all organic molecules
  • nucleic acids
  • proteins
  • carbohydrates
  • fats
  • vitamins
• C-14 isotope is used for carbon dating
• graphite is used as a lubricant & in pencils
• diamonds are used in jewelry & as an abrasive

More general terms

• chemical element

More specific terms

• carbon-11
• carbon-13
• carbon-14

Additional terms

• periodic table

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=139338