So, whats the big deal about Carbon?
Carbon is amazing because of its ABUNDANCE! Carbon is one of the most abundance elements in the universes entirety, and can be found in diamonds. Initially, it wasn't even considered an element, but upon further evaluation, carbon made the ranks of element status--therefore, I, Carbon, am quite the element ;)
What caused carbon to be considered an element? Thats a little odd for something to just become an element.
Well, I've always been around--carbon did not just a few years ago, but I was certainly looked at different. This changed in the 17th Century however, when Robert Boyle took it upon himself to redefine what an element was. He regarded, "I now mean by elements certain primitive and simple, or perfectly unmingled bodies; which not being made of any other bodies or of one another, are the ingredients of which all those called perfectly mixed bodies (chemical compounds) are immediately compounded, and into which they are ultimately resolved.". Thus, while I can take many different forms, I am still the same element in diamond as I am graphite, as graphite is not lead, but carbon (a common error of the era).
Wow! Thats interesting. Have you taken any new forms since?
Wow! Thats interesting. Have you taken any new forms since?
I typically try to keep that at a minimum, but in 1985 I took the form of what is now called, "buckministerfullerene", a spherical fullerene molecule.
buckministerfullerene
Besides diamond and graphite, what else are you capable of doing?
I can date fossils (Carbon dating), as well as artifacts which in turn, tell you more about life on earth! (This is done through isotope C14)
What are your properties?
I am entirely solid, so long as conditions permit. I react if temperatures get too high however, and I can bond with smaller atoms causing me to contribute to up to 10 million different formations of compounds.
Are you dangerous at all?
In essence, pure carbon is low in toxicity to humans. However, if I am ingested in the form of graphite or charcoal, I am likely to stay there forever. You use Carbon black for tattooing, which is a way that I am not dangerous, but! inhalation of coal dust or soot (also known as carbon black) in large quantities can cause lung tissue damage and congestive lung disease, which is my coal workers have to be so careful.
In essence, pure carbon is low in toxicity to humans. However, if I am ingested in the form of graphite or charcoal, I am likely to stay there forever. You use Carbon black for tattooing, which is a way that I am not dangerous, but! inhalation of coal dust or soot (also known as carbon black) in large quantities can cause lung tissue damage and congestive lung disease, which is my coal workers have to be so careful.
Texas worker affected by Carbon Black, 1942.
Woah. Well, is there anything else you'd like to say?
Without me, you would die. Life would cease to exist in its entirety, and that would be that.
Erm. Thank you, you've answered all my questions!
My pleasure.
Summary:
It is clear that Carbon is a very spunky element that knows its place in the universe. Without carbon, we would all die, but with too much carbon, we could face serious health risks. Carbon is a non-metal, has 4 electrons in its outer shell, and can bond with other atoms to make millions of different combinations. Whats cool about carbon is its many uses and participation in the development of diamonds.
Without me, you would die. Life would cease to exist in its entirety, and that would be that.
Erm. Thank you, you've answered all my questions!
My pleasure.
Summary:
It is clear that Carbon is a very spunky element that knows its place in the universe. Without carbon, we would all die, but with too much carbon, we could face serious health risks. Carbon is a non-metal, has 4 electrons in its outer shell, and can bond with other atoms to make millions of different combinations. Whats cool about carbon is its many uses and participation in the development of diamonds.
