Carbon is a chemical element essential to life and to the manufacture of products of all kinds. It is represented by the symbol C and is found in abundance in the environment as organic Carbon (as in coal, hydrocarbons, etc.) and inorganic form (as Carbon dioxide [CO2], Carbon monoxide Carbon [CO], etc.). It is a vital element of organized life on Earth.

Carbon is colorless, odorless and combines with other elements to form organic and inorganic compounds. It is considered one of the three elements that play a major role in organic chemistry (along with Hydrogen and Oxygen). Carbon bonds with itself and other elements to form molecules whose properties are determined by the type of bond between the Carbon atoms.

Carbon is a versatile element and the molecules it forms can have varying properties. The most important properties with Carbon are electrical conductivity, thermal resistance and ability to absorb moisture. Products made from Carbon are widely used in industry and in everyday life. The main carbon-based products are fuels, plastics, dyes, inks, steel, textiles, and chemicals for cosmetics and medicines.

Carbon is also an important element for the production and storage of energy. Carbon is used to generate energy in power plants and can be stored in the form of coal, natural gas and oil. Fossil fuels can be converted into energy from the Carbon they contain. Carbon can also be stored in the form of biomass (organic plant or animal matter), Carbon dioxide or carbon-based chemicals.

3550°
4827°

12.0112

-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4

[He] 2s2 2p2

2
4

2.55

11.2603

Synthetic

Radioactive

Liquid

Gaseous

Electronic configuration diagram

Characteristics

Name	Carbon
Number	6
Atomic	12.0112
Symbol	C
Fusion	3550
Boiling	4827
Density	2.267
Period	2
Group	14

Discovery	0 Prehistoric
Abundance	200
Radius	0.91
Electronegativity	2.55
Ionization	11.2603
Number of isotopes	7
Electronic configuration	[He] 2s2 2p2
Oxidation states	-4,-3,-2,-1,1,2,3,4
Electron by energy level	2,4

Minerals containing this element : 455

Mineral	Hardness	Density
Abelsonite	2.00 / 2.50	1.45
Abenakiite-(Ce)	4.00 / 4.00	3.21
Acetamide	1.00 / 1.50	1.17
Adamsite-(Y)	3.00 / 3.00
Aerinite	3.00 / 3.00	2.48
Afghanite	5.50 / 6.00	2.55
Agaite		6.99
Agricolaite	4.00 / 4.00	3.53
Albrechtschraufite	2.00 / 3.00	2.60
Alexkhomyakovite
Alloriite	5.00 / 5.00	2.35
Alstonite	4.00 / 4.50	3.69
Alumohydrocalcite	2.50 / 2.50	2.23
Amber	2.00 / 2.50	1.10
Ammonite	6.00 / 7.00	3.20
Ancylite-(Ce)	4.50 / 4.50	3.90
Ancylite-(La)	4.00 / 4.50	3.88
Andersonite	2.50 / 2.50	2.79
Ankerite	3.50 / 4.00	3.00
Antipinite	2.00 / 2.00	2.55
Aragonite	3.50 / 4.00	2.93
Arisite-(Ce)
Arisite-(La)	3.00 / 3.50	4.07
Armangite	4.00 / 4.00	4.43
Artinite	2.50 / 2.50	2.00
Ashburtonite		4.69
Ashcroftine-(Y)	5.00 / 5.00	2.61
Astrocyanite-(Ce)	2.00 / 3.00	3.80
Aurichalcite	2.00 / 2.00	3.64
Azurite	3.50 / 4.00	3.77
Balliranoite
Barbertonite	1.50 / 2.00	2.10
Barentsite	3.00 / 3.00	2.56
Barringtonite		2.83
Barstowite	3.00 / 3.00	5.50
Barytocalcite	4.00 / 4.00	3.64
Bastnäsite-(Ce)	4.00 / 5.00	4.95
Bastnäsite-(La)	4.00 / 5.00	4.95
Bastnäsite-(Nd)	4.00 / 4.50	5.23
Bastnäsite-(Y)	4.00 / 4.50	4.90
Bayleyite		2.05
Baylissite		2.00
Benstonite	3.00 / 4.00	3.60
Beyerite	2.00 / 3.00	6.56
Bijvoetite-(Y)	2.00 / 2.00	3.90
Biraite-(Ce)	5.00 / 5.00	4.76
Birunite	2.00 / 2.00	2.36
Bismutite	4.00 / 4.00	7.00
Blatonite	2.00 / 3.00	3.99
Bonshtedtite	4.00 / 4.00	2.95
Borcarite	4.00 / 4.00	2.77
Bosoite
Bradleyite	3.00 / 4.00	2.73
Braunerite
Brenkite		3.10
Brianyoungite	2.00 / 2.50	3.93
Britvinite	3.00 / 3.00	5.51
Brugnatellite	2.00 / 2.00	2.14
Burbankite	3.50 / 3.50	3.50
Burkeite	3.50 / 3.50	2.57
Bussenite	4.00 / 4.00	3.63
Bütschliite		2.00
Calcioancylite-(Ce)	4.00 / 4.50
Calcioancylite-(Nd)	4.00 / 4.50
Calcioburbankite	3.00 / 4.00	3.45
Calcite	3.00 / 3.00	2.71
Calclacite		1.00
Caledonite	2.50 / 3.00	5.70
Calkinsite-(Ce)	2.50 / 2.50	3.27
Callaghanite	3.00 / 3.50	2.71
Camérolaite		3.10
Canavesite		1.80
Cancrinite	6.00 / 6.00	2.40
Cancrisilite	5.00 / 5.00	2.40
Caoxite	2.00 / 2.50	1.85
Carboborite	2.00 / 2.00	2.12
Carbobystrite	6.00 / 6.00	2.37
Carbocernaite	3.00 / 3.00	3.53
Carbokentbrooksite	5.00 / 5.00	3.14
Carbonate-fluorapatite	5.00 / 5.00	3.12
Carbonate-hydroxylapatite	5.00 / 5.00	3.00
Carbonatecyanotrichite	2.00 / 2.00	2.65
Carborandite
Caresite	2.00 / 2.00	2.57
Carletonite	4.00 / 4.50	2.45
Carpathite	1.50 / 1.50	1.29
Carraraite
Carrboydite		2.50
Caysichite-(Y)	4.50 / 4.50	3.03
Cebaite-(Ce)	4.50 / 5.00	4.81
Cebaite-(Nd)	4.50 / 5.00	4.80
Cejkaite		3.67
Cerussite	3.00 / 3.50	6.50
Chalconatronite	1.00 / 2.00	2.27
Chanabayaite	2.00 / 2.00	1.46
Chaoite	1.00 / 2.00	3.33
Charmarite
Chibaite	6.50 / 7.00	1.93
Chlorartinite		1.87