What Are the Properties of Carbon?

Carbon is a non-metallic element and is located in Group II of the Periodic Table of the Elements. The Latin word Carbonium means "coal, charcoal." Carbon is a very common element, and it is widely present in the atmosphere and the crust and living things in many forms. The simple substance of carbon has been recognized and utilized by people for a long time. A series of compounds of carbon, organic matter, is the foundation of life. Carbon is one of the constituents of pig iron, wrought iron and steel. Carbon chemically combines itself to form a large number of compounds, and is a biologically and commercially important molecule. Most molecules in living organisms contain carbon.

The English name carbon comes from the Latin word for coal and

Pure carbon has extremely low toxicity to the human body and can be processed, and even safely ingested in the form of graphite or activated carbon. Carbon can resist dissolution or chemical attack, for example, even when facing acidic substances in the digestive tract. Therefore, it may persist indefinitely once it enters human tissues. Carbon black may be one of the earliest pigments used for tattoos. For example, Iceman Oz was found to have carbon black tattoos. These tattoos existed from the time he survived until 5200 years after his death. ^[12]

Carbon is indispensable for all living systems known today, without which life would not exist.

The main economic use of carbon other than food and wood is in the form of hydrocarbons (most notably oil and gas). Crude oil is used by the petrochemical industry at refineries to produce other commodities, including gasoline and kerosene.

Cellulose is a natural carbon-containing polymer obtained from cotton, hemp, flax and other plants. The main role of cellulose in plants is to maintain the structure of the plant itself. Animal-derived polymers of commercial value include wool, cashmere, silk, etc., all of which are carbon polymers, and usually also include nitrogen and oxygen atoms regularly arranged in the polymer's main chain.

Carbon and its compounds are diverse. Carbon can also form alloys with iron, the most common being carbon steel; graphite and clay can be used to make pencil cores for writing and drawing, and graphite can also be used as a lubricant and pigment, as a glass molding material, and for electrodes And electroplating, electroforming, electric motor brushes, and neutron deceleration materials in nuclear reactors; coke can be used in barbecue, drawing materials and ironmaking industry; gem-grade diamond can be used as jewelry, industrial diamond can be used for drilling, cutting And polishing, as well as tools for machining stones and metals.