Carbon chains form the basis of complex molecules like DNA.There are a number of terms you need to know, at the same time, in order to know what the term "molecular weight" means.ĭefinition #1: The molecular weight of a substance is the weight in atomic mass units of all the atoms in a given formula.ĭefinition #2: An atomic mass unit is defined as 1/12 the weight of one atom of the carbon-12 isotope.Plants obtain carbon from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. Carbon stars are stars whose atmosphere has more carbon than oxygen.Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe and typically the fourth most abundant element in stars.It easily forms compounds through the covalent bonding of its four valence electrons.It is known to form nearly 10 million different compounds.A fourth allotrope of carbon was recently discovered called the fullerene.Life on Earth is generally referred to as "carbon-based life.". Carbon-14 is used to date carbon based materials in "carbon dating." Carbon-12 makes up almost 99% of the carbon found on Earth. There are two stable naturally occurring isotopes of carbon, carbon-12 and carbon-13. French scientist Antoine Lavoisier determined that diamond was made of carbon in 1772.Ĭarbon gets its name from the Latin word "carbo" meaning charcoal or coal. People have known about carbon as a substance since ancient times. Diamonds are also used for their hardness in cutting tools and precision instruments. It is also used to make the writing (black) part of pencils.ĭiamonds are used to make fine jewelry and are considered the most valuable of all the gemstones. Graphite is often used in making batteries, brakes, and lubricants. It is even used to make black ink for printers and painting. It is used to make all sorts of materials including plastics and alloys such as steel (a combination of carbon and iron). It is used for fuel in the form of coal, methane gas, and crude oil (which is used to make gasoline). It makes up 18 percent of the human body by mass.Ĭarbon is used in some way in most every industry in the world. Hydrocarbons that form many fuels such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum also contain carbon.Ĭarbon is found in all forms of life. It is found in its allotropic forms of diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon throughout the world.Ĭarbon is also found in many compounds including carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere and dissolved in the oceans and other major bodies of water. It is a major element in many rock formations such as limestone and marble. Carbon also has the highest melting point of all the elements.Ĭarbon is found throughout the earth. One of the key characteristics of carbon is its ability to make long chains of molecules through linking up with other carbon atoms. Amorphous carbon is generally black and is used to describe coal and soot. Graphite, on the other hand, is one of the softest materials and is black-gray in color. It also has the highest thermal conductivity of any element. In its diamond allotrope, carbon is the hardest known substance in nature. Each allotrope of carbon has different physical properties. Allotropes are materials made from the same element, but their atoms fit together differently. Click here to learn more about the carbon cycle.Ĭarbon is found on Earth in the form of three different allotropes including amorphous, graphite, and diamond. Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass and the second most abundant element in the human body.Ĭarbon is constantly cycled through the Earth's oceans, plant life, animal life, and atmosphere. It forms more compounds than any other element and forms the basis to all plant and animal life.
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