What is Carbon?

mulham jarjnazei Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:18 pm

Carbon is a naturally abundant nonmetallic element which forms the
basis of most living organisms. Carbon is the fourth most abundant
element in the universe, and it plays a crucial role in the health and
stability of the planet through the carbon cycle.
This cycle is extremely complex, and it illustrates the interconnection
between organisms on Earth. Most consumers are familiar with the
element, along with numerous forms in which it appears.The atomic number
of carbon is six, and the element is identified by the symbol “C” on
the periodic table. The structure of carbon molecules is such that the
molecules bond
readily with a wide range of other elements, forming thousands of
compounds. The molecules in carbon also bond with each other in
different ways, creating forms of carbon such as diamonds, the hardest
substance on Earth, and graphite, one of the softest materials on the
planet. The changing personality of carbon, depending on what it bonds
with and how, makes it a very unique element.