Why is carbon chemistry important?
1 Answer
Jun 4, 2014
We and all living things are carbon based.
Carbon is an element that has been known since ancient times. Since it can form 4 bonds it has the ability to be the basis for life.
Carbon sometimes is considered the element of life, since all living cells and organic molecules contain carbon.
Carbon takes the form of one the hardest elemental substances (diamond) and one of the softest (graphite).
You encounter pure carbon as diamond, graphite in pencil 'lead', and amorphous carbon in soot and charcoal. Most of all the graphite is mined in China and used in pencils.
The element is found in the food you eat, the clothes you wear and the air you breathe.
