🔹 Basic Information

• Element Name: Carbon
• Discovered By: Known since ancient times (not credited to a single discoverer)
• Year of Discovery: Prehistoric
• Category: Non-metal
• Group: 14 (Group IVA – Carbon group)
• State at Room Temperature: Solid (can be black like charcoal or clear like diamond) ⬛💎

Carbon is a unique and essential non-metal. It forms the basis of all life on Earth — found in everything from your body to trees, food, plastics, and even air (as CO₂). It’s known for its many forms, including diamond, graphite, and coal.

🔸 Chemical Properties

• Chemical Symbol: C
• Atomic Number: 6
• Atomic Mass: ~12.01 u
• Valency: 4
• Electronic Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p²

Carbon has four outer electrons, which allows it to bond with many other elements, especially hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen — making it the backbone of organic chemistry.

📘 Basic Things to Know

Carbon is everywhere — in the air (as CO₂), in the ground (coal, oil), in living things (DNA, proteins), and even in the pencil you write with (graphite). ✏️

It can form chains, rings, and complex molecules, which is why it’s the main element in organic compounds — basically, the chemistry of life. 🧬

🤔 Interesting Facts

• Carbon exists in different forms:
  • Diamond (hardest natural material 💎)
  • Graphite (soft, used in pencils ✏️)
  • Fullerenes and graphene (used in nanotechnology)
• Your body is about 18% carbon by mass.
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) plays a key role in photosynthesis and climate change. 🌍
• Carbon dating is used to determine the age of fossils and ancient objects. ⏳
• Without carbon, life as we know it wouldn’t exist!

🔧 Common Uses

• Fuel: Found in coal, oil, and natural gas — major sources of energy. 🔥
• Metallurgy: Used in making steel and alloys (carbon strengthens iron). ⚙️
• Electronics: Graphene is being used in advanced batteries and circuits. 🔋
• Art & Writing: Charcoal and graphite used in pencils, sketches, and designs. 🖊️
• Medicine & Research: Carbon compounds are found in drugs, plastics, and even medical implants.

📚 Conclusion

Carbon is the foundation of all life and one of the most versatile elements in nature. From diamonds and pencils to plants and people, carbon shows how one element can exist in many forms and serve countless purposes. For students, carbon is key to learning about biology, chemistry, the environment, and technology. 🧠🌍