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carbon [C]
From the Latin carbo meaning coal [2]; (1789) [1]
Occurrence:
1) found native as
a) diamond or graphite
b) a constituent of coal, petroleum & asphalt
c) limestone & other carbonates
d) organic compounds
e) artificially in varying degrees of purity esp as
1] carbon black
2] lampblack
3] activated carbon
4] charcoal
5] coke
2) a new molecular allotrope C60 or buckminister-fullerene was discovered in 1985
Characteristics:
1) non metallic chiefly tetravalent solid element
2) graphite is black or silver-black
3) diamond comes in various colors
Uses:
1) essential component of all organic molecules
a) nucleic acids
b) proteins
c) carbohydrates
d) fats
e) vitamins
2) C-14 isotope is used for carbon dating
3) graphite is used as a lubricant & in pencils
4) diamonds are used in jewelry & as an abrasive
Related
periodic table
Specific
carbon-11
carbon-13
carbon-14
General
chemical element
Properties
SIZE: AW = 12.011
atomic number
VALUE: 6
VALENCE: HE 2S2 2P2
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM cid=139338
References
- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-
Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
- Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003