Carbon: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:31, 18 February 2025

A chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6

Carbon is a chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds. Carbon is a member of group 14 of the periodic table. It is the 15th most abundant element in the Earth's crust and the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass, after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen.

Properties[edit]

Carbon is known for its ability to form a vast number of compounds, more than any other element, with almost ten million compounds described to date. This vast number of compounds is due to carbon's ability to form stable bonds with other carbon atoms, as well as with atoms of other elements.

Allotropes[edit]

Carbon is known to exist in several different forms, known as allotropes. The most well-known allotropes of carbon are diamond, graphite, and fullerenes.

Diamond is a transparent crystal that is the hardest naturally occurring material known. It is used in cutting tools and jewelry.
Graphite is opaque and black, and it is used in pencils and as a lubricant.
Fullerenes are molecules composed entirely of carbon, taking the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube. Buckminsterfullerene is a well-known example.

Diamond (left) and graphite (right) are two allotropes of carbon.

Isotopes[edit]

Carbon has two stable, naturally occurring isotopes: carbon-12 and carbon-13. Carbon-12 is the most abundant, making up about 98.9% of carbon on Earth. Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon, used in radiocarbon dating to determine the age of carbonaceous materials up to about 60,000 years old.

Occurrence[edit]

Carbon is found in all known life forms and is the second most abundant element in the human body by mass, after oxygen. It is a major component of biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.

In the Earth[edit]

Carbon is found in the Earth's crust in the form of carbonates in minerals such as limestone and dolomite, and in organic deposits such as coal, peat, oil, and natural gas.

In the atmosphere[edit]

Carbon is present in the Earth's atmosphere primarily as carbon dioxide (CO_), a greenhouse gas that is a major contributor to global warming.

Uses[edit]

Carbon is used in a wide variety of applications due to its versatility and abundance.

Industrial uses: Carbon is used in the form of graphite for high-temperature crucibles, as a lubricant, and in pencils. Diamond is used in cutting, grinding, and drilling tools.
Chemical industry: Carbon is a key component in the production of steel, where it is used to control the hardness and strength of the alloy.
Energy: Carbon-based fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are major sources of energy worldwide.

Biological Role[edit]

Carbon is essential to all known life. It is the backbone of organic chemistry, forming the basis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. The carbon cycle is a fundamental part of the Earth's ecosystem, involving the exchange of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms.

Related pages[edit]

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-'''Carbon''' is a [[chemical element]] with the symbol '''C''' and [[atomic number]] 6. As a member of group 14 on the [[periodic table]], it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four [[electron]]s available to form [[covalent chemical bond]]s. It belongs to the [[p-block]]. Three [[isotope]]s occur naturally, [[Carbon-12|12C]] and [[Carbon-13|13C]] being stable, while [[Carbon-14|14C]] is a [[radionuclide]], decaying with a half-life of about 5,730 years. Carbon is one of the few elements known since antiquity.
+{{Short description|A chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-Carbon is the 15th most abundant element in the [[Earth's crust]], and the fourth most abundant element in the [[universe]] by mass after [[hydrogen]], [[helium]], and [[oxygen]]. Carbon's abundance, its unique diversity of organic compounds, and its unusual ability to form polymers at the temperatures commonly encountered on Earth enables this element to serve as a common element of all known [[life]]. It is the second most abundant element in the human body by mass (about 18.5%) after oxygen.
+'''Carbon''' is a chemical element with the symbol '''C''' and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds. Carbon is a member of group 14 of the periodic table. It is the 15th most abundant element in the Earth's crust and the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass, after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen.
-The [[atom]]s of carbon can bond together in diverse ways, resulting in various allotropes of carbon. The best known allotropes are [[graphite]], [[diamond]], and [[fullerenes]]. The physical properties of carbon vary widely with the allotropic form. For example, graphite is opaque and black, while diamond is highly transparent. Graphite is soft enough to form a streak on paper, while diamond is the hardest naturally occurring material known. Graphene, a single layer of graphite, is a semimetal with unusual electronic properties.
+==Properties==
+Carbon is known for its ability to form a vast number of compounds, more than any other element, with almost ten million compounds described to date. This vast number of compounds is due to carbon's ability to form stable bonds with other carbon atoms, as well as with atoms of other elements.
-Carbon compounds form the basis of all known life on Earth, and the carbon-nitrogen cycle provides some of the energy produced by the [[Sun]] and other stars. Although it forms an enormous variety of compounds, most forms of carbon are relatively nonreactive under normal conditions. At high temperatures, carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and with hydrogen to form carbon monoxide.
+===Allotropes===
+Carbon is known to exist in several different forms, known as allotropes. The most well-known allotropes of carbon are [[diamond]], [[graphite]], and [[fullerenes]].
-In addition to its role in the [[biosphere]], carbon is a key ingredient in many energy sources, notably [[fossil fuel]]s like [[coal]], [[oil]], and [[natural gas]]. It is also found in many [[plastic]]s, [[drug]]s, and other synthetic materials.
+* '''Diamond''' is a transparent crystal that is the hardest naturally occurring material known. It is used in cutting tools and jewelry.
+* '''Graphite''' is opaque and black, and it is used in pencils and as a lubricant.
+* '''Fullerenes''' are molecules composed entirely of carbon, taking the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube. [[Buckminsterfullerene]] is a well-known example.
-== Uses of Carbon ==
+[[File:Diamond-and-graphite-with-scale.jpg|thumb|right|Diamond (left) and graphite (right) are two allotropes of carbon.]]
-Carbon is used in various forms in numerous fields:
-- '''[[Diamond]]''': Due to its extreme hardness and high thermal conductivity, diamond is used in cutting, grinding, and drilling tools, as well as in heat sinks.
+===Isotopes===
-- '''[[Graphite]]''': Employed in high-temperature lubricants, batteries, and lightweight structural materials.
+Carbon has two stable, naturally occurring isotopes: [[carbon-12]] and [[carbon-13]]. Carbon-12 is the most abundant, making up about 98.9% of carbon on Earth. Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon, used in [[radiocarbon dating]] to determine the age of carbonaceous materials up to about 60,000 years old.
-- '''[[Activated carbon]]''': Used in water purification, gas purification, and in medical applications to treat poisonings and overdoses.
-- '''[[Carbon fiber]]''': Known for its high strength-to-weight ratio, used in the manufacturing of composite materials for aerospace, automotive, and sporting goods.
-- '''[[Carbon black]]''': Used as a reinforcing filler in tires and other rubber products and as a pigment in inks, coatings, and plastics.
-== Environmental Impact ==
+==Occurrence==
-Carbon plays a dual role in the Earth's environment. It is crucial for life, yet its emission in the form of [[carbon dioxide]] (CO2), a [[greenhouse gas]], from burning fossil fuels is a major driver of [[global warming]] and [[climate change]]. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions and enhance carbon sequestration are vital to mitigating climate change.
+Carbon is found in all known life forms and is the second most abundant element in the human body by mass, after oxygen. It is a major component of [[biomolecules]] such as [[proteins]], [[lipids]], [[nucleic acids]], and [[carbohydrates]].
-== See Also ==
+===In the Earth===
-- [[Carbon cycle]]
+Carbon is found in the Earth's crust in the form of carbonates in minerals such as [[limestone]] and [[dolomite]], and in organic deposits such as [[coal]], [[peat]], [[oil]], and [[natural gas]].
-- [[Carbon footprint]]
-- [[Carbon sequestration]]
-- [[Greenhouse gas]]
+===In the atmosphere===
+Carbon is present in the Earth's atmosphere primarily as [[carbon dioxide]] (CO_), a greenhouse gas that is a major contributor to [[global warming]].
+==Uses==
+Carbon is used in a wide variety of applications due to its versatility and abundance.
+* '''Industrial uses''': Carbon is used in the form of graphite for high-temperature crucibles, as a lubricant, and in pencils. Diamond is used in cutting, grinding, and drilling tools.
+* '''Chemical industry''': Carbon is a key component in the production of [[steel]], where it is used to control the hardness and strength of the alloy.
+* '''Energy''': Carbon-based fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are major sources of energy worldwide.
+==Biological Role==
+Carbon is essential to all known life. It is the backbone of organic chemistry, forming the basis of [[DNA]], [[RNA]], and [[proteins]]. The [[carbon cycle]] is a fundamental part of the Earth's ecosystem, involving the exchange of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms.
+==Related pages==
+* [[Carbon cycle]]
+* [[Organic chemistry]]
+* [[Carbon footprint]]
+* [[Carbon dioxide]]
+[[Category:Carbon]]
 [[Category:Chemical elements]]
 [[Category:Nonmetals]]
-[[Category:Carbon]]
-{{Chemistry-stub}}
-{{stb}}