THE BEECHMONT CREST SCIENCE ZONE
LEARNING THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS
Carbon
Name origin: Latin carbo = “coal”
Symbol: C
Atomic number: 6
Atomic weight: 12.011
- Carbon has been known since ancient times. Carbon is the sixth most abundant element in the universe. However, it is not nearly so abundant on earth.
- Graphite and diamonds are allotropic forms of carbon.
- Two common gases contain carbon: methane and carbon dioxide.
- Carbon is the critical element in all life forms. Every organic molecule is based on a carbon-hydrogen structure.
- At room temperatures, carbon is only moderately reactive with oxygen. However, carbon readily combines with oxygen at higher temperatures.
- Nearly all carbon found in nature is carbon-12, one of the seven carbon isotopes. Carbon has isotopes with atomic weights between 9 and 15.
