Carbon | Facts, Uses, & Properties

<!doctype html> <html lang="en" class="topic-desktop ui-ie7 ui-ie"> <head prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns# fb: https://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133"> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js" /> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.png" /> <meta name="description" content="Carbon, chemical element that forms more compounds than all the other elements combined. Carbon is widely distributed in coal and in the compounds that make up petroleum, natural gas, and plant and animal tissue. The carbon cycle is one of the most important of all biological processes." /> <meta name="keywords" content="carbon, encyclopedia, encyclopeadia, britannica, article" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element" /> <title>Carbon | Facts, Uses, & Properties | Britannica</title>  <script> !function(){"use strict";function e(e){const t=e.match(/((?=([a-z0-9._!#$%+^&*()[\]<>-]+))\2@[a-z0-9._-]+\.[a-z0-9._-]+)/gi);return t?t[0]:""}function t(t){return e(a(t.toLowerCase()))}function a(e){return e.replace(/\s/g,"")}async function n(e){const t={sha256Hash:"",sha1Hash:""};if(!("msCrypto"in window)&&"https:"===location.protocol&&"crypto"in window&&"TextEncoder"in window){const a=(new TextEncoder).encode(e),[n,c]=await Promise.all([s("SHA-256",a),s("SHA-1",a)]);t.sha256Hash=n,t.sha1Hash=c}return t}async function s(e,t){const a=await crypto.subtle.digest(e,t);return Array.from(new Uint8Array(a)).map(e=>("00"+e.toString(16)).slice(-2)).join("")}function c(e){let t=!0;return Object.keys(e).forEach(a=>{0===e[a].length&&(t=!1)}),t}function i(e,t,a){e.splice(t,1);const n="?"+e.join("&")+a.hash;history.replaceState(null,"",n)}var o={checkEmail:e,validateEmail:t,trimInput:a,hashEmail:n,hasHashes:c,removeEmailAndReplaceHistory:i,detectEmails:async function(){const e=new URL(window.location.href),a=Array.from(e.searchParams.entries()).map(e=>`=`);let s,o;const r=["adt_eih","sh_kit"];if(a.forEach((e,t)=>{const a=decodeURIComponent(e),[n,c]=a.split("=");if("adt_ei"===n&&(s={value:c,index:t,emsrc:"url"}),r.includes(n)){o={value:c,index:t,emsrc:"sh_kit"===n?"urlhck":"urlh"}}}),s)t(s.value)&&n(s.value).then(e=>{if(c(e)){const t={value:e,created:Date.now()};localStorage.setItem("adt_ei",JSON.stringify(t)),localStorage.setItem("adt_emsrc",s.emsrc)}});else if(o){const e={value:{sha256Hash:o.value,sha1Hash:""},created:Date.now()};localStorage.setItem("adt_ei",JSON.stringify(e)),localStorage.setItem("adt_emsrc",o.emsrc)}s&&i(a,s.index,e),o&&i(a,o.index,e)},cb:"adthrive"};const{detectEmails:r,cb:l}=o;r()}(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel"> window.$UI = {}; window.Constants = {"LICENSE_URL": "/bps/license","DEFAULT_TEST_VERSION": "A","DEFAULT_STATE": "XX","QUIZ_URL": "/quiz","SPOTLIGHT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/spotlight","CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT": "text/plain;charset=UTF-8","TOPIC_FACTS_DATA_URL": "/facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_IMAGE_QUIZZES": "images","TOPIC_MEDIA_PATH": "/images-videos","USER_PROFILE_URL": "/user","DEBUG_URL": "/debug","ONE_GOOD_FACT_URL": "/one-good-fact","ERROR_404_URL": "/error404","PROCON_CITED_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/ProCon-in-the-News","PROCON_URL": "/procon","TOPIC_PAGE_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/page","INFINITE_SCROLL_PREFIX_URL": "/scroll","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_BROWSE_URL": "/questions","CC_USD": "USD","domain": "britannica.com","PROCON_EDITOR_ID": "12941390","SURVEY_URL": "/survey","CATEGORY_BROWSE_URL": "/browse","STORY_BROWSE_URL": "/stories","COUNTRY_US": "US","OPEN_MEDIA_OVERLAY_PARAMETER": "/media","NEWSLETTER_SUBSCRIPTION_URL": "/newsletter-subscription","MAINTENANCE_ERROR_URL": "https://maintenance.eb.com","IMARS_EDITOR_ID": "12365882","PROFILE_EB_EDITOR_URL": "/editor","WEB_INF_RESOURCES_PATH": "WEB-INF/resources","AI_ABOUT_PAGE_URL": "/about-britannica-ai","TOPIC_ADDITIONAL_INFO_PATH": "/additional-info","SUDOKU_GAME_URL": "/games/sudoku","CC_INR": "INR","ARTICLE_PRINT_URL": "/print/article","FIRST_EDITION_URL": "/subscriber/firstedition","WW1_PORTAL_URL": "/discover/World-War-I","MENDEL_COOKIE": "__mendel","topicUrlClasses": "[topic, animal, art, biography, event, place, plant, science, sports, technology, procon, money]","DEMYSTIFIED_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/demystified","LIST_BROWSE_URL": "/list/browse","PROFILE_EXPERT_URL": "/contributor","ASSEMBLY_IMAGE_URL": "/image/assembly","DAY_IN_HISTORY_URL": "/on-this-day","DEFAULT_CURRENCY": "USD","CONTENT_TYPE_XML": "text/xml;charset=UTF-8","PORTAL_FINANCE_BROWSE_URL_PREFIX": "/money/browse","MONEY_IMARS_CATEGORY": "13000","AJAX_PREFIX_URL": "/ajax","TOPIC_BROWSE_URL": "/topic-browse","MARKETING_CONTENT": "/marketing-content","ENV_RUNTIME": "runtime","GALLERY_URL": "/gallery","topicUrlClassesList": "topic|animal|art|biography|event|place|plant|science|sports|technology|procon","CONTENT_TYPE_HTML": "text/html;charset=UTF-8","ENV_LOCAL": "override","MEDIA_OVERLAY_URL": "/media-overlay","CHATBOT_PAGE_URL": "/chatbot","NEWSLETTER_PAGE_URL": "/newsletters","ENV_DEV": "development","MEDIA_URL": "/media","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_URL": "/question","PORTAL_FINANCE_URL_PREFIX": "/money","PODCASTS_URL": "/podcasts","STAND_ALONE_VIDEO_URL": "/video","MORE_ON_THIS_DAY_URL": "/more-on-this-day","TOPIC_QUOTES_URL": "/quotes","SEARCH_PAGE_URL": "/search","PROCON_CLASS": "PROCON","KUSTOM_MENDEL_APPLICATION_ID": "1","TOPIC_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/topic","ENV_BRANCH": "branch","ERROR_URL": "/error","MAIN_VERSION": "mainVersion","TOPIC_COLLECTION_URL": "/summary","LOGINBOX_URL": "/auth/loginbox","PROCON_DEBATE_TOPICS_URL": "/procon/Debate-Topics","ONE_GOOD_FACT_BROWSE_URL": "/one-good-fact/all-good-facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_URL": "/quiz/browse","BIO_BROWSE_URL": "/browse/biographies","LIST_URL": "/list","TIGHTROPE_QUIZ_URL": "/quiz/tightrope","ALPHA_BROWSE_URL": "/sitemap","CONTENT_TYPE_JSON": "application/json","DICTIONARY_URL": "/dictionary","COBRAND_IMAGE_URL": "/image/cobrand","PROCON_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/pro-and-con-issues-in-the-news","PROCON_BROWSE_URL": "/procon","QUIZ_BROWSE_VOCAB_QUIZZES": "vocabulary-quizzes","SUBMISSION_URL": "/submission","EB_LOG_OUT": "/auth2/logout","ENV_PRODUCTION": "production","EXPLORE_PORTAL_URL": "/explore","TOPIC_AJAX_URL": "/ajax/topic","TOPIC_SUMMARY_BROWSE_URL": "/summaries","WTFACT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/wtfact","VIDEO_CHANNEL_URL": "/videos","GALLERY_BROWSE_URL": "/gallery/browse","CACHE_URL": "/cache","PROCON_ABOUT_URL": "/procon/About-ProCon","COMPANION_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/companion","MEDIA_FOLDER": "/eb-media","SHOW_ALL_CONTRIBUTORS": "/additional-info#contributors","BRITANNICA_EDITORS_ID": "4419","ENV_CACHE_DISABLED": "mendelCache","CALCULATORS_BROWSE_URL": "/calculators","STORY_URL": "/story","DEFAULT_COUNTRY": "US","NAVBAR_URL": "/ajax/navbar","EB_LOGIN_URL": "/auth/eb-login","NEW_ARTICLES_URL": "/new-articles",}; window.CDN = "https://cdn.britannica.com"; window.CAM_SETTINGS_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/settings"; window.CAM_LOGIN_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/login"; window.CAM_SIGN_UP_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/registration" window.Mendel = { "config" : { "domain": "britannica.com", "page": "Topic", "videoPlayerId": "UyMCoK2v", "sharedUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element", "amuselabsUrl": "https://cdn3.amuselabs.com", "resourcesPrefixUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/[url]?v=3.133.9", "date": 20250216, "userInfo": { "type": "ANONYMOUS" ,"currency": "AUUS" ,"country": "SG" ,"state": "XX" ,"timezone": "Asia/Singapore" ,"bcomId": "4338691258997600947" ,"hasAds": true ,"testVersion": "B" ,"adsTestVersion": "B" ,"consumerId": "" ,"instId": "" ,"consumerUserName": "" ,"instUserName": "" ,"cognito": null }, "tvs":{ "r":[25,25,25,25], "a": [25,25,45,5]}, "isLoggedInAsUser": false, "isPhone": false, "isDesktop": true, "logoutUrl": "/auth2/logout", "selfServiceUrl": "https://myaccount.britannica.com", "cdnUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com", "chatbotApi": "https://www.britannica.com/chat-api", "fetchOffset": 800, "mendelCookieName": "__mendel", "mendelCookie": {"surveyShown":false,"visitedTopicId":94732,"currentDate":20250216}, "autocompleteToSearchPage": false,"topicUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element", "freeTopicReason": "PERMANENT_FREE_TOPIC", "topicId": 94732, "template": "DESKTOP", "type": "CORE", "hasToc": true, "chatbotApi": "https://www.britannica.com/chat-api", "showPreview": false, }, "GA": {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","articleTemplateType":"PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} }; </script> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1887621861548296"/ <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@britannica" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/22394-050-619F56C9/element-symbol-square-C-Its-properties-some.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Carbon, chemical element that forms more compounds than all the other elements combined. Carbon is widely distributed in coal and in the compounds that make up petroleum, natural gas, and plant and animal tissue. The carbon cycle is one of the most important of all biological processes."/> <meta property="og:type" content="ARTICLE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Carbon | Facts, Uses, & Properties | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Carbon, chemical element that forms more compounds than all the other elements combined. Carbon is widely distributed in coal and in the compounds that make up petroleum, natural gas, and plant and animal tissue. The carbon cycle is one of the most important of all biological processes."/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/22394-050-619F56C9/element-symbol-square-C-Its-properties-some.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init opengraph"> Mendel.openGraph = {"type":"ARTICLE","title":"Carbon | Facts, Uses, & Properties","description":"Carbon, chemical element that forms more compounds than all the other elements combined. Carbon is widely distributed in coal and in the compounds that make up petroleum, natural gas, and plant and animal tissue. The carbon cycle is one of the most important of all biological processes.","imageUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/94/22394-050-619F56C9/element-symbol-square-C-Its-properties-some.jpg","imageType":"image/jpeg","pageUrl":"https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element"}</script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/" > <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons"> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/vendor-bundle.css?v=3.133.9" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/mendel-css.css?v=3.133.9" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.css?v=3.133.9" rel="stylesheet" /> <script type="text/javascript"> if (self !== top) { top.location = self.location; } </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/at.js?v=3.133.9" async ></script> <script> dataLayer = []; </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5W6NC8'); </script> <meta name="last-modified" content="2025-02-13" /> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"headline":"Carbon | Facts, Uses, & Properties","image":{"url":"https://cdn.britannica.com/94/22394-050-619F56C9/element-symbol-square-C-Its-properties-some.jpg","@type":"ImageObject"},"author":[{"name":"The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica","url":"https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419","@type":"Person"}],"keywords":"carbon","wordcount":3300,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element","datePublished":"1998-07-20T00:00:00Z","dateModified":"2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","description":"Carbon, chemical element that forms more compounds than all the other elements combined. Carbon is widely distributed in coal and in the compounds that make up petroleum, natural gas, and plant and animal tissue. The carbon cycle is one of the most important of all biological processes.","publisher":{"name":"Encyclopedia Britannica","@type":"Organization","logo":{"url":"https://corporate.britannica.com/wp-content/themes/eb-corporate/_img/logo.png","@type":"ImageObject"}},"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"article"} </script> </head> <body data-leg="B" class="new-topic topic-desktop first-page-true user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-b b-ie">  <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='cafemedia';</script> <script data-no-optimize="1" data-cfasync="false"> (function(w, d) { w.adthrive = w.adthrive || {}; w.adthrive.cmd = w. adthrive.cmd || []; w.adthrive.plugin = 'adthrive-ads-manual'; w.adthrive.host = 'ads.adthrive.com';var s = d.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.referrerpolicy='no-referrer-when-downgrade'; s.src = 'https://' + w.adthrive.host + '/sites/61575e5c934c481d714b3ca9/ads.min.js?referrer=' + w.encodeURIComponent(w.location.href) + '&cb=' + (Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) + 1); var n = d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n); })(window, document); </script> <div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. Please <a class="text-white text-underscore" href="https://browsehappy.com/">upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience and security. </div> </div> <script id="json-navbar-info" type="application/json"> {"topSectionLinks":[{"title":"Ask the Chatbot","url":"/chatbot","navbarId":"CHATBOT"},{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse","navbarId":"QUIZZES"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society","navbarId":"HISTORY"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech","selected":true,"navbarId":"SCIENCE"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies","navbarId":"BIOS"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature","navbarId":"ANIMALS"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel","navbarId":"GEOGRAPHY"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture","navbarId":"ART"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon","navbarId":"PROCON"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money","navbarId":"MONEY"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos","navbarId":"VIDEOS"}],"selectedSuperCategory":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"Science-Tech","description":"Explore science and technology; astronomy; biology; chemistry; earth science; mathematics; physics; technology, agriculture, cars, computers, engineering, industry, inventions, communication","keywords":"astronomy; biology; chemistry; earth science; mathematics; physics; technology, agriculture, cars, computers, engineering, industry, inventions, communication","classId":"SCIENCE","sortOrder":2},"selectedNavbarLink":{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech","selected":true,"navbarId":"SCIENCE"}} </script> <script id="json-hamburger-menu" type="application/json"> {"britannicaMenu1":[{"title":"Home","url":"/"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money"}],"britannicaMenu2":[{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos"},{"title":"On This Day","url":"/on-this-day"},{"title":"One Good Fact","url":"/one-good-fact"},{"title":"Dictionary","url":"/dictionary"},{"title":"New Articles","url":"/new-articles"}],"browseByCategory":[{"title":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},"links":[{"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues"},{"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"/browse/Philosophy-Religion"},{"title":"Politics, Law & Government","url":"/browse/Politics-Law-Government"},{"title":"World History","url":"/browse/World-History"}]},{"title":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},"links":[{"title":"Health & Medicine","url":"/browse/Health-Medicine"},{"title":"Science","url":"/browse/Science"},{"title":"Technology","url":"/browse/Technology"}]},{"title":{"id":3,"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},"links":[{"title":"Browse Biographies","url":"/browse/biographies"}]},{"title":{"id":1,"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},"links":[{"title":"Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates","url":"/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates"},{"title":"Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates","url":"/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates"},{"title":"Environment","url":"/browse/Environment"},{"title":"Fossils & Geologic Time","url":"/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time"},{"title":"Mammals","url":"/browse/Mammals"},{"title":"Plants","url":"/browse/Plants"}]},{"title":{"id":4,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},"links":[{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/browse/Geography-Travel"}]},{"title":{"id":2,"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},"links":[{"title":"Entertainment & Pop Culture","url":"/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture"},{"title":"Literature","url":"/browse/Literature"},{"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"/browse/Sports-Recreation"},{"title":"Visual Arts","url":"/browse/Visual-Arts"}]}],"browseByFeature":[{"title":"Companions","url":"/stories/companion"},{"title":"Demystified","url":"/stories/demystified"},{"title":"Image Galleries","url":"/gallery/browse"},{"title":"Lists","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Podcasts","url":"/podcasts"},{"title":"Spotlight","url":"/stories/spotlight"},{"title":"Summaries","url":"/summary"},{"title":"The Forum","url":"/stories/the-forum"},{"title":"Top Questions","url":"/question"},{"title":"#WTFact","url":"/stories/wtfact"}],"moreFromBritannica":[{"title":"Britannica Kids","url":"https://kids.britannica.com/","newTab":true}],"menuType":"DEFAULT"} </script> <header id="header" class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="global-nav-top-bar"> <div class="grid gx-0 h-100 justify-content-between align-items-center container-lg mx-auto p-0 position-relative"> <div class="d-flex align-items-center"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-self-start js-toggle js-toggle-hamburger btn btn-link link-white btn-sm rounded-0 p-10"> <div class="hamburger-tooltip"> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24" id="nav-toggle" data-icon="menu"></em> </div> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24 global-nav-search-icon" id="nav-search-icon" data-icon="search" ></em> </button> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center ml-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-logo global-nav-logo-left" /> </a> <div class="global-nav-top-search-bar global-nav-top-search-container global-nav-search-container" id="global-nav-top-search-bar"> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-center global-nav-logo non-homepage-logo" /> </a> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small global-nav-center search global-nav-center-search-container"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> <div class="col-35 col-sm-auto text-right order-3 mr-lg-15 align-items-center d-flex justify-content-end"> <div class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2 marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=evergreen-cap" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5 mr-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> SUBSCRIBE </a></SPAN></div> <div class="d-inline-block d-md-none mr-5 mr-sm-10"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=evergreen" class="subscribe-link btn btn-xs btn-orange p-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> SUBSCRIBE </a></SPAN></div> <button class="js-toggle-user-dropdown js-toggle btn btn-sm btn-link link-white rounded-0 px-md-15 pl-5 pr-5"> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block mr-5">Login</span> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block d-md-none font-16 font-sm-20" data-icon="account_circle"></em> <div class="d-none dropdown-menu-subscription-link">https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=nav-login-box&utm_campaign=evergreen</div> <em class="material-icons inactive-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_down"></em> <em class="material-icons active-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_up"></em> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none hamburger-menu-subscription-link"><DIV class="marketing-HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=evergreen" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5" target="_blank"> SUBSCRIBE </a></DIV></div> <div id="global-nav-react"> <div class="d-none"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a></li> <li><a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a></li> <li><a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a></li> <li><a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a></li> <li><a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> <li><a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/procon">ProCon</a></li> <li><a href="/money">Money</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/videos">Videos</a></li> <li><a href="/on-this-day">On This Day</a></li> <li><a href="/one-good-fact">One Good Fact</a></li> <li><a href="/dictionary">Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="/new-articles">New Articles</a></li> </ul> <a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues">Lifestyles & Social Issues</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Philosophy-Religion">Philosophy & Religion</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Politics-Law-Government">Politics, Law & Government</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/World-History">World History</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Health-Medicine">Health & Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Science">Science</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Technology">Technology</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/biographies">Browse Biographies</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates">Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates">Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Environment">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time">Fossils & Geologic Time</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Mammals">Mammals</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Plants">Plants</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture">Entertainment & Pop Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Sports-Recreation">Sports & Recreation</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Visual-Arts">Visual Arts</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/stories/companion">Companions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/demystified">Demystified</a></li> <li><a href="/gallery/browse">Image Galleries</a></li> <li><a href="/list/browse">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/spotlight">Spotlight</a></li> <li><a href="/summary">Summaries</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/the-forum">The Forum</a></li> <li><a href="/question">Top Questions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/wtfact">#WTFact</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://kids.britannica.com/">Britannica Kids</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </header> <div class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="container-lg p-0 d-flex justify-content-center global-nav-categories-bar overflow-hidden"> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 global-nav-slider category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-CHATBOT " href="/chatbot">Ask the Chatbot</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-QUIZZES " href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-HISTORY " href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-SCIENCE selected selected" href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-BIOS " href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ANIMALS " href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-GEOGRAPHY " href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ART " href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-PROCON " href="/procon">ProCon</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-MONEY " href="/money">Money</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-VIDEOS " href="/videos">Videos</a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="md-article-container template-desktop infinite-pagination"> <div class="infinite-scroll-container article last"> <script> Object.assign( window.Mendel.config, { "infiniteScrollList": [{"p":3,"t":94732},{"p":1,"t":431935},{"p":1,"t":214545},{"p":1,"t":956965},{"p":1,"t":161406},{"p":1,"t":242042},{"p":1,"t":1391111},{"p":1,"t":94839},{"p":3,"t":431954},{"p":1,"t":245233}], "sequence": 1, "topics": {} }); </script> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content md-expanded" data-topic-id="94732"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element">carbon</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/science/carbon-chemical-element">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref1118"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/science/carbon-chemical-element#ref1118">Properties and uses</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref278884"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/science/carbon-chemical-element#ref278884">Production of elemental carbon</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref278885"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/science/carbon-chemical-element/Structure-of-carbon-allotropes">Structure of carbon allotropes</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref278886"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/science/carbon-chemical-element/Structure-of-carbon-allotropes#ref278886">Nuclear properties</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref1119"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/science/carbon-chemical-element/Compounds">Compounds</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/carbon-chemical-element">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element/images-videos">Images, Videos & Interactives</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/22394-050-619F56C9/element-symbol-square-C-Its-properties-some.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/64461" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/22394-004-DCF40612/element-symbol-square-C-Its-properties-some.jpg" alt="carbon" height="50" /> </a> <a href="/video/carbon-life-basis/207733" data-href="/media/1/94732/207733" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/187036-138-819B7AF5/carbon-life-basis.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Why is carbon called the element of life?" class="col-100" /> <div class="btn btn-sm btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/127738-004-697C0793/Bituminous-coal.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/122656" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/127738-004-697C0793/Bituminous-coal.jpg" alt="bituminous coal" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/97411-004-B1693DE3/fullerene-structures-buckminsterfullerene-carbon-nanotube-buckyball.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/106978" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/97411-004-B1693DE3/fullerene-structures-buckminsterfullerene-carbon-nanotube-buckyball.jpg" alt="fullerene" height="50" /> </a> <a href="" data-href="/media/1/94732/299687" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/13/255013-049-6477CC72/periodic-table-banner.jpg" alt="Explore an interactive periodic table of the elements" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/79/144479-050-F71837CC/Kimberlite.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/148443" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/79/144479-004-33CB87AD/Kimberlite.jpg" alt="kimberlite" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/10938-004-077FABA2/Hope-diamond-Smithsonian-Institution-Washington-DC.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/5964" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/10938-004-077FABA2/Hope-diamond-Smithsonian-Institution-Washington-DC.jpg" alt="Hope diamond" height="50" /> </a> <a href="/video/applications-graphene-material/207803" data-href="/media/1/94732/207803" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/52/187052-138-BC98ECBE/applications-graphene-material.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="What is graphene?" class="col-100" /> <div class="btn btn-sm btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/114419-050-F6658A82/carbon-cycle.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/118423" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/114419-004-EF376131/carbon-cycle.jpg" alt="carbon cycle" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/104260-050-AC53F949/Charles-David-Keeling-Curve-American-changes-atmosphere.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/109623" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/104260-004-DFA1D2F5/Charles-David-Keeling-Curve-American-changes-atmosphere.jpg" alt="Keeling Curve" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-student-links"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> For Students </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/summary/carbon-chemical-element"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.133.9" class="default " height="200" width="200"/> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/summary/carbon-chemical-element" >carbon summary</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-quizzes"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Quizzes </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/periodic-table-names-symbols-quiz"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/215466-131-16036BD8/Concept-artwork-periodic-table-elements.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Concept artwork on the periodic table of elements." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/periodic-table-names-symbols-quiz" >118 Names and Symbols of the Periodic Table Quiz</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/facts-you-should-know-the-periodic-table-quiz"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/58/203458-131-D94E9327/periodic-table-concept.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Periodic Table of the elements concept image (chemistry)" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/facts-you-should-know-the-periodic-table-quiz" >Facts You Should Know: The Periodic Table Quiz</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/the-stuff-that-things-are-made-of"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/16/167116-131-A2252E0D/flying-sparks-firework-exploding-gunpowder-sulfur-blast.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="hot flying sparks, loud firework exploding, pyrotechnic gunpowder sulfur blast, explosive" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/the-stuff-that-things-are-made-of" >The Stuff That Things Are Made Of</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/36-questions-from-britannicas-most-popular-science-quizzes"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/215905-131-626D860A/Encyclopaedia-Britannica-thistle-graphic-logo.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/36-questions-from-britannicas-most-popular-science-quizzes" >36 Questions from Britannica’s Most Popular Science Quizzes</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-read-next"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Read Next </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/9-gems-that-will-make-you-feel-like-a-peasant"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/170778-131-D35E060F/Reflections-diamond.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Reflections in a diamond. (gem; cut gemstone; optics; refraction)" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/9-gems-that-will-make-you-feel-like-a-peasant" >Cold Stones: 9 Gems That Will Make You Feel Like a Peasant</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-discover"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Discover </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/10-women-who-advanced-our-understanding-of-life-on-earth"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/163226-131-3BB9F5A0/Jane-Goodall-Freud-British-Tanzania-Gombe-National.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Jane Goodall. British ethologist Dr. Jane Goodall (b. 1934) with chimpanzee Freud at Gombe National Park in Tanzania. Goodall researches the chimpanzees of Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/10-women-who-advanced-our-understanding-of-life-on-earth" >10 Women Who Advanced Our Understanding of Life on Earth</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/periods-of-american-literature"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/198256-131-63923156/Chapter-header-The-Adventures-of-Tom-Sawyer-1884.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Chapter 4 pg 42 - Chapter header of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Published in 1884 by The American Publishing Company" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/periods-of-american-literature" >Periods of American Literature</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/was-jesse-owens-snubbed-by-adolf-hitler-at-the-berlin-olympics"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/189351-131-104BA669/Jesse-Owens-Olympic-Games-1936.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Berlin, 1936 - Jesse Owens of the USA in action in the mens 200m at the Summer Olympic Games. Owens won a total of four gold medals." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/story/was-jesse-owens-snubbed-by-adolf-hitler-at-the-berlin-olympics" >Was Jesse Owens Snubbed by Adolf Hitler at the Berlin Olympics?</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/7-of-historys-most-notorious-serial-killers"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/212551-131-CCA62CB1/Shadow-man-spooky-building-knife.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Shadow of a man holding large knife in his hand inside of some dark, spooky buiding" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/7-of-historys-most-notorious-serial-killers" >7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/12-greek-gods-and-goddesses"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/23/176123-131-94DCF6F8/Aphrodite.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Aphrodite. Greek mythology. Sculpture. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/12-greek-gods-and-goddesses" >12 Greek Gods and Goddesses</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/all-81-references-in-fall-out-boys-we-didnt-start-the-fire-explained"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/33/129733-131-FA8FC06B/Smoke-flames-twin-towers-attacks-World-Trade-September-11-2001.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center and explodes at 9:03 a.m. on September 11, 2001 in New York City. The crash of two airliners hijacked by terrorists loyal to al Qaeda leader Osama bin.." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/all-81-references-in-fall-out-boys-we-didnt-start-the-fire-explained" >All 81 References in Fall Out Boy’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/why-do-some-people-call-football-soccer"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/190751-131-B431C216/soccer-ball-goal.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="soccer ball in the goal" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/story/why-do-some-people-call-football-soccer" >Why Do Some People Call Football “Soccer”?</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button class="drawerToggle btn position-sticky border btn-xs btn-white btn-circle rounded-sm d-none d-lg-flex " type="button" aria-label="Toggle Drawer"> <em class="material-icons font-18 text-blue" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="h-100 ml-0 pr-lg-0 "> <div class="h-100 grid gx-0 gx-lg-20"> <div class="h-100 col-sm"> <div class="h-100 infinite-pagination-container d-flex flex-column position-relative"> <div class="position-absolute top-0 h-100 w-100"> <div class="toc-sticky-header d-none d-lg-none bg-gray-50 px-10 px-sm-30 position-sticky w-100 "> <div class="toc-sticky-header-inner-container align-items-center d-flex mx-auto h-100 w-100"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-sm btn-white text-blue border-2 border-gray-100 gtm-mobile-toc-header-button js-sections-button d-lg-none p-10"> <em class="material-icons my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Contents </button> <div class="header-ai-ask-button-placeholder"></div> <div class="header-ai-summarize-button-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grey-box w-100 grey-box-top"> <div class="grey-box-content mx-auto w-100"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 1, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/browse/Science", "name": "Science" } } , { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 2, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/browse/Chemistry", "name": "Chemistry" } } ] } </script> <nav class="breadcrumb mt-20"> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="link-gray-600" href="/browse/Science">Science</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="link-gray-600" href="/browse/Chemistry">Chemistry</a> </span> </nav> <div class="page2ref-true topic-content topic-type-REGULAR" data-student-article="false"> <script class="page-description-json" type="application/json"> { "url": "/science/carbon-chemical-element", "shareUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element", "browserTitle": "Carbon | Facts, Uses, & Properties", "firstTopicPage": true, "topicId":94732 } </script> <div class="reading-channel"> <div class="desktop-header-image module-spacing"> <figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-20 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="13684" data-asm-type="image"> <div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"> <a style="min-height: 160px;" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/22394-050-619F56C9/element-symbol-square-C-Its-properties-some.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/94732/64461"> <picture> <source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/22394-050-619F56C9/element-symbol-square-C-Its-properties-some.jpg?w=300"> <img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/22394-050-619F56C9/element-symbol-square-C-Its-properties-some.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop" alt="carbon" loading="eager" /> </picture> <button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"> <em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </button> </a> </div> <figcaption class="card-body"> <div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"> <span> <a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/22394-050-619F56C9/element-symbol-square-C-Its-properties-some.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/64461">carbon</a> <span><span>Carbon and its properties.</span></span> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <span class="link-blue">(more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>carbon</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">chemical element</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-block md-topic-tools qa-action-buttons mb-15" data-topic-id="94732"> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border pr-10 border-2 text-nowrap" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> More Actions </button> <div class="md-more-popover popover popover-sm p-0 font-14 z-1"> <div> <button class="js-print-modal-button js-modal gtm-topic-tool btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=94732] .md-print-modal" > <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="print"></em> Print </button> <div class="md-print-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">print</em> Print </div> <div class="mt-20 mb-10"> Please select which sections you would like to print: </div> <form action="/print/article/94732" method="post" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <div class="print-box-items"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><label><input class="mr-10" type="checkbox" name="sequence[]" value="0">Table Of Contents</label></li> </ul> </div> <input type="submit" class="btn btn-blue md-disabled" value="Print" /> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=94732] .md-cite-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="verified"></em> Cite </button> <div class="md-cite-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom mb-15"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">verified</em>Cite </div> <div class="font-serif"> While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica" data-authors-initial="The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica" data-title="carbon" data-published-date="13 Feb. 2025" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=94732] .md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="carbon" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element">https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element</a> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-feedback-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal=".md-feedback-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="message"></em> Feedback </button> </div> <div> <button class="qa-external-website-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=94732] .md-websites-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 mr-5" data-icon="link"></em> External Websites </button> </div> </div> <div class="md-feedback-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom"> Feedback </div> <form method="post" action="/submission/feedback/94732"> <div class="my-20"> Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.livescience.com/28698-facts-about-carbon.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Live Science - Carbon: Facts about an element that is a key ingredient for life on Earth</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/533-carbon-life-s-framework-element" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Science Learning Hub - Carbon – life’s framework element</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.phys.lsu.edu/~jarrell/COURSES/SOLID_STATE/Material_Reviews/2002/Scott_Masturzo/DLCpaper.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">LSU College of Sciences - Department of Physics and Astronomy - An Overview of Synthetic Diamond and Diamond-like Carbon</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch10/carbon.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Purdue University - Chemical Education Division Groups - The Inorganic Chemistry of Carbon</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Carbon" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubChem - Carbon</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele006.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Jefferson Lab - Carbon</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/c.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Lenntech - Carbon - C</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Exemplars_and_Case_Studies/Exemplars/Culture/Carbon_and_Fireworks" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Chemistry LibreTexts - Carbon and Fireworks</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.khanacademy.org/science/in-in-class-10-chemistry-india/x87dd2847d57ee419:in-in-carbon-and-its-compounds-coming-soon/x87dd2847d57ee419:in-in-bonding-in-carbon-covalent-bond/a/carbon-and-hydrocarbons" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Khan Academy - Carbon and hydrocarbons</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/6/carbon" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Royal Society of Chemistry - Carbon</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.chemicool.com/elements/carbon.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Chemicool - Carbon</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/2-3-carbon" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">OpenStax - Biology 2e - Carbon</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/carbon/352910" target="_blank" rel="noopener">carbon - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/carbon/273512" target="_blank" rel="noopener">carbon - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: C</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-13T00:00:00CST" >Feb 13, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Key People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/August-Kekule-von-Stradonitz" topicid="314308">August Kekule von Stradonitz</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Harold-Kroto" topicid="323819">Sir Harold W. Kroto</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Robert-F-Curl-Jr" topicid="146968">Robert Curl</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/John-Ulric-Nef" topicid="407946">John Ulric Nef</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Charles-Glover-Barkla" topicid="53462">Charles Glover Barkla</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/science/fullerene" topicid="221916">fullerene</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/graphene" topicid="1236225">graphene</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/graphite-carbon" topicid="242042">graphite</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/diamond-gemstone" topicid="161406">diamond</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/amorphous-carbon" topicid="21313">amorphous carbon</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/carbon-chemical-element"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref111994"></span>carbon (C)</strong>, nonmetallic <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">chemical element</a> in Group 14 (IVa) of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/periodic-table" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">periodic table</a>. Although widely distributed in nature, carbon is not particularly plentiful—it makes up only about 0.025 percent of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Earth" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Earth’s</a> crust—yet it forms more <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-compound" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">compounds</a> than all the other elements <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="combined" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/combined" data-type="EB">combined</a>. In 1961 the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/isotope" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">isotope</a> <span id="ref111995"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-12" class="md-crosslink ">carbon-12</a> was selected to replace <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/oxygen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">oxygen</a> as the standard relative to which the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/atomic-weight" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">atomic weights</a> of all the other elements are measured. <span id="ref111996"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-14" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Carbon-14</a>, which is <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/radioactivity" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">radioactive</a>, is the isotope used in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-14-dating" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">radiocarbon dating</a> and radiolabeling.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="text-center pb-20"><div class="md-table-wrapper"><table class="md-element-table"><caption>Element Properties</caption><tbody><tr><th scope="row">atomic number</th><td>6</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">atomic weight</th><td>12.0096 to 12.0116</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">melting point</th><td>3,550 °C (6,420 °F)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">boiling point</th><td>4,827 °C (8,721 °F)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">density</th><td></td></tr><tr><th scope="row">diamond</th><td>3.52 g/cm<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row">graphite</th><td>2.25 g/cm<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row">amorphous</th><td>1.9 g/cm<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row">oxidation states</th><td>+2, +3, +4</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">electron configuration</th><td>1<em>s</em><sup>2</sup>2<em>s</em><sup>2</sup>2<em>p</em><sup>2</sup></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1118"> <h2 class="h1">Properties and uses</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">On a weight basis, carbon is 19th in order of elemental abundance in Earth’s crust, and there are estimated to be 3.5 times as many carbon <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/atom" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">atoms</a> as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/silicon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">silicon</a> atoms in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/universe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">universe</a>. Only <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/hydrogen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hydrogen</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/helium-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">helium</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/oxygen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">oxygen</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/neon-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">neon</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/nitrogen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">nitrogen</a> are atomically more abundant in the cosmos than carbon. Carbon is the cosmic product of the “burning” of helium, in which three helium nuclei, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/atomic-weight" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">atomic weight</a> 4, fuse to produce a carbon nucleus, atomic weight 12.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="207733" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="187036"><a data-id="187036" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/carbon-life-basis/-207733"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/187036-138-819B7AF5/carbon-life-basis.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="Why is carbon called the element of life?" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/mO9DGC91.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/36/187036-138-819B7AF5/carbon-life-basis.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/MTeHjbCH", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/tqkzArQj.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="187036">Why is carbon called the element of life?</span><span>Learn about carbon and how it forms the basis of life.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/science/carbon-chemical-element/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">In the crust of Earth, elemental carbon is a minor component. However, carbon <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="compounds" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compounds" data-type="MW">compounds</a> (i.e., carbonates of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/magnesium" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">magnesium</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/calcium" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">calcium</a>) form common minerals (e.g., <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/magnesite" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">magnesite</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/dolomite-mineral" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">dolomite</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/marble-rock" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">marble</a>, or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/limestone" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">limestone</a>). <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/coral" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Coral</a> and the shells of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/oyster" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">oysters</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/clam" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">clams</a> are primarily <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/calcium-carbonate" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">calcium carbonate</a>. Carbon is widely distributed as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/coal-fossil-fuel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">coal</a> and in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/organic-compound" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">organic compounds</a> that <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constitute" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitute" data-type="MW">constitute</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/petroleum" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">petroleum</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/natural-gas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">natural gas</a>, and all <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/plant" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">plant</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/animal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">animal</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/tissue" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">tissue</a>. A natural sequence of chemical reactions called the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-cycle" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">carbon cycle</a>—involving conversion of atmospheric <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-dioxide" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">carbon dioxide</a> to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbohydrate" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">carbohydrates</a> by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/photosynthesis" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">photosynthesis</a> in plants, the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="consumption" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consumption" data-type="MW">consumption</a> of these carbohydrates by animals and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/oxidation-reduction-reaction" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">oxidation</a> of them through <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/metabolism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">metabolism</a> to produce carbon dioxide and other products, and the return of carbon dioxide to the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/atmosphere" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">atmosphere</a>—is one of the most important of all biological processes.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="122656" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/127738-004-697C0793/Bituminous-coal.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/94732/122656"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/127738-004-697C0793/Bituminous-coal.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/127738-004-697C0793/Bituminous-coal.jpg?w=300" alt="bituminous coal" data-width="360" data-height="308" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/127738-004-697C0793/Bituminous-coal.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/122656">bituminous coal</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Carbon as an element was discovered by the first person to handle <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/charcoal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">charcoal</a> from fire. Thus, together with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sulfur" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">sulfur</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/iron-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">iron</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/tin" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">tin</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/lead-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">lead</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/copper" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">copper</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mercury-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mercury</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/silver" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">silver</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/gold-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gold</a>, carbon was one of the small <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/group-periodic-table" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">group</a> of elements well known in the ancient world. Modern carbon <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/chemistry" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">chemistry</a> dates from the development of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/coal-fossil-fuel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">coals</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/petroleum" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">petroleum</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/natural-gas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">natural gas</a> as fuels and from the elucidation of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="synthetic" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synthetic" data-type="MW">synthetic</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/organic-chemistry" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">organic chemistry</a>, both substantially developed since the 1800s.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="106978" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/97411-004-B1693DE3/fullerene-structures-buckminsterfullerene-carbon-nanotube-buckyball.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/94732/106978"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/97411-004-B1693DE3/fullerene-structures-buckminsterfullerene-carbon-nanotube-buckyball.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/97411-004-B1693DE3/fullerene-structures-buckminsterfullerene-carbon-nanotube-buckyball.jpg?w=300" alt="fullerene" data-width="190" data-height="310" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/97411-004-B1693DE3/fullerene-structures-buckminsterfullerene-carbon-nanotube-buckyball.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/106978">fullerene</a><span>Two fullerene structures: an elongated carbon nanotube and a spherical buckminsterfullerene, or “buckyball.”</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Elemental carbon exists in several forms, each of which has its own physical characteristics. Two of its well-defined forms, <span id="ref111997"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/diamond-gemstone" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">diamond</a> and <span id="ref111998"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/graphite-carbon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">graphite</a>, are crystalline in structure, but they differ in physical properties because the arrangements of the atoms in their structures are dissimilar. A third form, called <span id="ref921351"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/fullerene" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fullerene</a>, consists of a variety of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/molecule" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">molecules</a> composed entirely of carbon. Spheroidal, closed-cage fullerenes are called <span id="ref1252235"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/C60" class="md-crosslink ">buckerminsterfullerenes</a>, or “buckyballs,” and cylindrical fullerenes are called nanotubes. A fourth form, called Q-carbon, is crystalline and magnetic. Yet another form, called <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="amorphous" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amorphous" data-type="MW">amorphous</a> carbon, has no crystalline structure. Other forms—such as <span id="ref111999"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-black" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">carbon black</a>, <span id="ref112000"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/charcoal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">charcoal</a>, <span id="ref112001"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/lampblack" class="md-crosslink ">lampblack</a>, <span id="ref112002"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/coal-fossil-fuel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">coal</a>, and <span id="ref112003"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/coke" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">coke</a>—are sometimes called amorphous, but <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/X-ray" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">X-ray</a> examination has revealed that these substances do possess a low degree of crystallinity. Diamond and graphite occur naturally on Earth, and they also can be produced synthetically; they are chemically inert but do combine with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/oxygen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">oxygen</a> at high <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/temperature" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">temperatures</a>, just as <span id="ref112004"></span>amorphous carbon does. Fullerene was serendipitously discovered in 1985 as a synthetic product in the course of laboratory experiments to simulate the chemistry in the atmosphere of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/giant-star" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">giant stars</a>. It was later found to occur naturally in tiny amounts on Earth and in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/meteorite" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">meteorites</a>. <span id="ref1225449"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Q-carbon" class="md-crosslink ">Q-carbon</a> is also synthetic, but scientists have speculated that it could form within the hot <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="environments" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environments" data-type="MW">environments</a> of some planetary cores.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/periodic-table-names-symbols-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/215466-131-16036BD8/Concept-artwork-periodic-table-elements.jpg" alt="Concept artwork on the periodic table of elements." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">118 Names and Symbols of the Periodic Table Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The word <em>carbon</em> probably derives from the Latin <em>carbo</em>, meaning variously “coal,” “charcoal,” “ember.” The term <em>diamond</em>, a corruption of the Greek word <em>adamas</em>, “the invincible,” aptly describes the permanence of this crystallized form of carbon, just as <em>graphite</em>, the name for the other <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/crystal" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">crystal</a> form of carbon, derived from the Greek verb <em>graphein</em>, “to write,” reflects its property of leaving a dark mark when rubbed on a surface. Before the discovery in 1779 that graphite when burned in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/air" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">air</a> forms carbon dioxide, graphite was confused with both the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/metal-chemistry" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">metal</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/lead-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">lead</a> and a superficially similar substance, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mineral-chemical-compound" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mineral</a> molybdenite.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Pure diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance known and is a poor conductor of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/electricity" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">electricity</a>. Graphite, on the other hand, is a soft slippery <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/solid-state-of-matter" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">solid</a> that is a good conductor of both heat and electricity. Carbon as diamond is the most expensive and brilliant of all the natural <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/gemstone" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gemstones</a> and the hardest of the naturally occurring abrasives. Graphite is used as a lubricant. In microcrystalline and nearly amorphous form, it is used as a black <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/pigment" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">pigment</a>, as an adsorbent, as a fuel, as a filler for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/rubber-chemical-compound" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">rubber</a>, and, mixed with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/clay-geology" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">clay</a>, as the “lead” of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/pencil-writing-implement" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">pencils</a>. Because it conducts electricity but does not melt, graphite is also used for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/electrode" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">electrodes</a> in electric furnaces and dry cells as well as for making <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="crucibles" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crucibles" data-type="MW">crucibles</a> in which metals are melted. Molecules of fullerene show promise in a range of applications, including high-tensile-strength materials, unique electronic and energy-storage devices, and safe encapsulation of flammable gases, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/hydrogen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hydrogen</a>. <span id="ref1225448"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Q-carbon" class="md-crosslink ">Q-carbon</a>, which is created by rapidly cooling a sample of elemental carbon whose temperature has been raised to 4,000 <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/potassium" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">K</a> (3,727 °C [6,740 °F]), is harder than diamond, and it can be used to manufacture diamond structures (such as diamond films and microneedles) within its matrix. Elemental carbon is nontoxic.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Each of the “amorphous” forms of carbon has its own specific character, and, hence, each has its own particular applications. All are products of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/oxidation-reduction-reaction" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">oxidation</a> and other forms of decomposition of organic compounds. Coal and coke, for example, are used extensively as fuels. Charcoal is used as an absorptive and filtering agent and as a fuel and was once widely used as an ingredient in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/gunpowder" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gunpowder</a>. (Coals are elemental carbon mixed with varying amounts of carbon compounds. Coke and charcoal are nearly pure carbon.) In addition to its uses in making inks and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/paint" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">paints</a>, carbon black is added to the rubber used in tires to improve its wearing qualities. <span id="ref112005"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/bone-black" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bone black</a>, or animal charcoal, can adsorb gases and colouring matter from many other materials.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Carbon, either elemental or combined, is usually determined quantitatively by conversion to carbon dioxide gas, which can then be absorbed by other chemicals to give either a weighable product or a solution with acidic properties that can be titrated.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <div class="mb-20"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="299687" data-asm-type="infogram"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="infogram"><script id="infogram_0__/z8pqlTWwRHqAnaNwFRkn" src="https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed.js?Itp" type="text/javascript" title="Explore an interactive periodic table of the elements"></script></div></figure></div></div> </section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref278884"> <h2 class="h1">Production of elemental carbon</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="148443" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/79/144479-050-F71837CC/Kimberlite.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/94732/148443"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/79/144479-050-F71837CC/Kimberlite.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/79/144479-050-F71837CC/Kimberlite.jpg?w=300" alt="kimberlite" data-width="1600" data-height="1253" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/79/144479-050-F71837CC/Kimberlite.jpg" data-href="/media/1/94732/148443">kimberlite</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Until 1955 all <span id="ref1061631"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/diamond-gemstone" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">diamonds</a> were obtained from natural deposits, most significant in southern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Africa" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Africa</a> but occurring also in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Brazil</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Venezuela" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Venezuela</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guyana" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Guyana</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Siberia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Siberia</a>. The single known source in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United States</a>, in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Arkansas-state" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arkansas</a>, has no commercial importance; nor is <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/India" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">India</a>, once a source of fine diamonds, a significant present-day supplier. The primary source of diamonds is a soft bluish peridotic rock called <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/kimberlite" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">kimberlite</a> (after the famous deposit at Kimberley, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Africa" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">South Africa</a>), found in volcanic structures called pipes, but many diamonds occur in alluvial deposits presumably resulting from the weathering of primary sources. Isolated finds around the world in regions where no sources are indicated have not been uncommon.</p><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Natural deposits are worked by crushing, by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/gravity-physics" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gravity</a> and flotation separations, and by removal of diamonds by their <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="adherence" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adherence" data-type="MW">adherence</a> to a layer of grease on a suitable table. The following products result: (1) diamond proper—distorted cubic crystalline gem-quality stones varying from colourless to red, pink, blue, green, or yellow; (2) bort—minute dark crystals of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/abrasive" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">abrasive</a> but not gem quality; (3) ballas—randomly oriented crystals of abrasive quality; (4) macles—triangular pillow-shaped crystals that are industrially useful; and (5) carbonado—mixed diamond–graphite crystallites containing other impurities.</p><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD13 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The successful laboratory conversion of graphite to diamond was made in 1955. The procedure involved the simultaneous use of extremely high pressure and temperature with iron as a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/solvent-chemistry" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">solvent</a> or <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="catalyst" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalyst" data-type="MW">catalyst</a>. Subsequently, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/chromium" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">chromium</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/manganese" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">manganese</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/cobalt-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cobalt</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/nickel-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">nickel</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/tantalum" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">tantalum</a> were substituted for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/iron-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">iron</a>. Synthetic diamonds are now manufactured in several countries and are being used increasingly in place of natural materials as industrial <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/abrasive" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">abrasives</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD13 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD14 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Graphite occurs naturally in many areas, the deposits of major importance being in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/China" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">China</a>, India, Brazil, Turkey, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mexico" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Mexico</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Canada</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Russia</a>, and Madagascar. Both surface- and deep-mining techniques are used, followed by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/flotation-ore-dressing" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">flotation</a>, but the major portion of commercial graphite is produced by heating <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/petroleum" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">petroleum</a> coke in an electric <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/furnace" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">furnace</a>. A better crystallized form, known as pyrolytic graphite, is obtained from the decomposition of low-molecular-weight <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/hydrocarbon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hydrocarbons</a> by heat. Graphite fibres of considerable <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/tensile-strength" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">tensile strength</a> are obtained by carbonizing natural and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="synthetic" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/synthetic" data-type="EB">synthetic</a> organic fibres.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD14 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD15 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Carbon products are obtained by heating coal (to give coke), natural gas (to give blacks), or carbonaceous material of vegetable or animal origin, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wood-family" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">wood</a> or bone (to give charcoal), at elevated temperatures in the presence of insufficient oxygen to allow <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/combustion" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">combustion</a>. The volatile by-products are recovered and used separately.</p><span class="marker MOD15 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":3,"pageId":94732,"pageLength":1497,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Carbon | Facts, Uses, & Properties | Britannica