Carbon occurs naturally in four different forms. Discover how they differ and why?
- Carbon is present in all living organisms.
- Carbon in its elemental form appears as four distinct allotropes.
- Graphite is a shiny, black solid which leaves a mark when touched.
- In diamond, the carbon atom's four outer electrons all bond covalently with other carbon atoms to create lattice structure.
- Amorphous carbon, such as coal and charcoal, lack a uniform structure.
Carbon is the fourth most plentiful element in the known Universe, behind hydrogen, helium and oxygen.
It is also one of the most important, as no other element can form so many different molecules.
Carbon is the basis of organic chemistry because it is present in every living organism.
In its elemental ...
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