QandAs: Tech

What is Carbon?

Answer:
Carbon forms the chemical basis of all known life on Earth.

As organisms decay or change, they will continue to contain this element. Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe, but one of the least abundant elements in the Earth’s crust. Carbon plays a crucial role in the health and stability of the planet through the carbon cycle; an extremely complex cycle that interconnects organisms on Earth.

This element has the unique capacity to bond readily with both its own molecules (e.g.: creating diamonds or graphite) and with other elements, forming thousands of compounds (e.g.: hydrocarbon). Due to this immense versatility, carbon is a highly useful element in a number of industries.

Carbon is a nontoxic and non-reactive element. When combined with more dangerous elements it has the potential to do harm (i.e.: carbon monoxide). Carbon’s atomic number is six (6) and is identified by the symbol “C” on the periodic table.