Carbon

Carbon

Symbol: C

Number on Periodic Table: 6
Atomic Mass: 12.011

Diamond

Graphite

Number of Protons: 6

Number of Neutrons: 6

Number of Electrons: 6

Location on Periodic Table

Group 14 or Group IV out of the main 8 groups

Period 2

Class: Non-metal

Carbon is placed in group IV because it has four valence electrons and it is located in period two because its electrons are placed on two energy levels. This element is classified as a non-metal as it does not conduct heat or electricity very well, it is not ductile or malleable, and it has a large number of electrons in its valence shell.

Bohr-Rutherford Diagram

  

Physical Properties

Qualitative

Allotropic (the property of some chemical elements to exist in two or more different forms, in the same physical state): Two allotropes of carbon are diamond and graphite. The properties of carbon differ depending on the allotropic form.

Colour: Graphite- black and opaque    Diamond- colourless and transparent

State at Room Temperature: Solid

Texture: Brittle

Quantitative

Hardness: Graphite- very soft, can be scratched with fingernail (1-2 on Moh’s hardness scale)     Diamond- hardest material that exists, can only be scratched with another diamond (10 on Moh’s hardness scale)

Solubility: Insoluble in water, diluted in acids and bases.

Conductivity: Diamond has very low conductivity, graphite is a good conductor.

Density: Graphite- 2.25g/cm³   Diamond- 3.51g/cm³

Melting Point: Graphite- 3500ºC

Boiling Point: Graphite- 4830ºC

Chemical Properties

Carbon is very unreactive because, unlike the alkali and halogen group elements, it needs to gain, lose, or share many electrons. It does not react with water or acids. Graphite is non-flammable in bulk form, but in powder form it is combustible.

Compounds Formed

Due to the fact that carbon is an element that needs a large number of electrons to fill its valence shell, it can bond with many things in many ways. There are nearly 10 million known carbon compounds. Some more popular and more common compounds carbon forms are:
- Carbon Dioxide CO₂
-Carbon Monoxide CO
- Methane CH4
- Chloroform CHCl₃

- Carbon Tetrachloride CCl4

- Ethyl Alcohol C₂H₅OH

- Acetic Acid CH₃COOH

- Benzene C₆H₆

- Carbon Disulphide CS2

- Acetylene C₂H₂

- Benzene C₆H₆

Uses of Carbon

Some of the uses of carbon include:

• Hydrocarbons extracted as fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are used to produce energy.
• A small fraction of the above hydrocarbons is used as fuel for the petrochemical industries that produce polymers, fibres, paints, solvents, plastics, etc.
• Graphite, an allotrope of carbon, is used in pencils. It is used to make brushes in electric motors and in furnace linings.
• Carbon fibre is a very strong but lightweight material which makes it very useful. It is used in tennis rackets, skis, fishing rods, rockets, and airplanes.
• Amorphous carbon is used to make paints, inks, rubber products, and the cores of most dry cell batteries.
• Graphite can be used as a lubricant and is also used in the production of steel.
• Natural diamond, one of the allotropes of carbon, is typically used in jewelry. Commercial quality diamonds, which are made artificially, are used to make things like saw blades and other cutting/drilling tools.
• Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas that helps trap heat in our atmosphere. Without it, our Earth would be too cold for life.
• A very important purpose of carbon is that it is the backbone of the molecules that make life possible.

History of Carbon

Carbon has been known and used since ancient times, although it wasn’t recognized as an element until much later. Its name comes from the latin word “carbo” which means “charcoal.” The earliest known use of carbon dates back to 3750 BC by the Egyptians and Sumerians who used charcoal as fuel.  The form of carbon, diamond, was also known and used since ancient times. However, it was not recognized that it was a form of carbon until 1772 when Antoine Lavoisier burned a sample of diamond and a sample of carbon and discovered that they both produce the same amount of CO2 per gram. Antoine is credited with naming carbon as an element. Graphite was found to be a form of carbon the same way. Carbon was first recognized as an element in the second half of the 18th century. More recently, in 1985, a new, fourth form of carbon called "buckministerfullerence" was created in a lab by Harold Kroto. It consists of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a way that is similar to the surface of a soccer ball. The three naturally occurring allotropes of carbon are graphite, diamond, and amorphous. 

The "Buckministerfullerence" Molecule

Carbon Facts

- There is an entire branch of chemistry, known as organic chemistry, that is devoted to the study of carbon and its compounds.
- Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe.
- Carbon is present in all forms of life.
- Carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere have risen about 40% since the beginning of human industrialization.

Video

Why Is Carbon Important?

The most influential reason to why carbon is such an important element is that it is the key component to anything that is living. Carbon is the backbone of the molecules that make life possible. It can bond with many things in many ways as it only has four valence electrons allowing it to be the core atom of complicated structures that make living things. Carbon is also necessary as the form of carbon dioxide in the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Without this, plants wouldn't be able to grow and all living things wouldn't be able to release energy. Basically, carbon is so important because, without it, you wouldn't be reading this as no living things would exist. Carbon is also important because it is used to create many things. A very essential part of our lives today is electricity and energy which do things like heat our homes and allow us to drive cars. None of this would be possible if it weren't for fossil fuels which are made of carbon. Overall, carbon's many uses and versatility of structures it can form with itself and other atoms make it such an important element.

References

Periodic Table Picture :  Moss, G.P. "Periodic Table." Periodic Table. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2016.

Winter, Mark. "Carbon: The Essentials." Carbon»the Essentials [WebElements Periodic Table]. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2016.

Lenntech. "Water Treatment Solutions." Carbon (C) - Chemical Properties, Health and Environmental Effects. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.

NOAA Office of Response and Restoration, US GOV. "Search Chemicals." GRAPHITE (NATURAL) | CAMEO Chemicals | NOAA. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.

"History of Carbon." University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research - Carbon Materials - Carbon History and Timeline. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.

Jefferson Lab. "The Element Carbon." It's Elemental - The Element Carbon. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.