Carbon, with the symbol C and atomic number 6, is the most prevalent chemical element. Carbon belongs to the periodic table’s 14^th group. Carbon is derived from the Latin word carbo, which means coal. After hydrogen, helium, and oxygen, it is the 15^th most plentiful element in the Earth’s crust and the 4^th most prevalent element overall. Allotropes of carbon are formed when carbon atoms are linked together in different ways. Diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon are some of the most well-known allotropes. 

Characteristics of Carbon

1. Carbon is a non-metallic element.
2. Carbon is a tetravalent element.
3. It has three naturally occurring isotopes (stable – 12C and 13C, radioactive – 14C).
4. Graphite, diamond, and amorphous carbon are the most well-known allotropes.
5. At high temperatures, carbon has a high melting point and can easily mix with oxygen.
6. It is a great iron hardener and yields a variety of steel alloys.
7. C-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon that is used to date ancient organic items. 

Boiling Point of Carbon 

The boiling point of any material is the temperature at which it transitions from the liquid to the gaseous state. For water, this occurs at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius. The ice/water melting point and the liquid water/vapour boiling point were used to construct the Celsius scale. The boiling point of each substance is different. 

The boiling point of carbon is 4827 °C. 

Melting Point of Carbon

In a capillary tube, the melting point is determined. Unless otherwise specified, the temperature at which the substance is totally melted as indicated by the disappearance of the solid will be within + or – 4 °C of the stated value. 

The melting point of carbon is 3550 °C. 

Relative Atomic Mass of Carbon

Relative atomic mass (A_r) or atomic weight is the ratio of the average mass of atoms of a chemical element in a particular sample to the atomic mass constant. One-twelfth of the mass of a carbon-12 atom is represented by the atomic mass constant (symbol: mu). The resulting number is dimensionless because the two quantities in the ratio are masses; consequently, the value is considered to be relative. 

Carbon-12 is particularly important since it serves as the reference point for determining the atomic masses of all nuclides; its relative atomic mass is, by definition, exactly 12 daltons. Carbon-12 has six protons, six neutrons, and six electrons. 

Chemical Reactivity of Carbon

1. For many smaller atoms, carbon has a high reactivity and forms stable covalent bonds. 
2. Despite the fact that it reacts with many atoms, carbon is a weakly reactive element. 
3. When carbon is available at standard temperature and pressure, it tends to avoid oxidation and does not react with hydrochloric acid, chlorine, or any alkali metal. 
4. At higher temperatures, carbon tends to react with oxygen to produce carbon oxides, and with metals to produce metal carbides. 

Allotropes of Carbon

Amorphous, graphite, and diamond are the three naturally occurring allotropes of carbon. 

Amorphous

When a carbon-containing material is burned without enough oxygen to completely burn, amorphous carbon is generated. Inks, paints, and rubber products are made with this black soot, also known as lampblack, gas black, channel black, or carbon black. It can also be crushed into forms and is used, among other things, to make the cores of most dry cell batteries. 

Graphite

Graphite is a type of carbon that is primarily used as a lubricant. It is one of the softest materials known. Although natural graphite exists, most industrial graphite is made by baking petroleum coke, a black tar waste left over from crude oil refinement, in an oxygen-free furnace. There are two types of graphite found in nature: alpha and beta. Physically, these two forms are identical, yet their crystal structures are different. The alpha kind of graphite is found in all artificially generated graphite. Graphite, in the form of coke, is used in huge quantities in the production of steel, in addition to its usage as a lubricant. Soft coal is heated in an oven without allowing oxygen to mix with it to make coke. The black material used in pencils is actually graphite, despite the fact that it is frequently referred to as lead. 

Diamond

Diamond is one of the hardest substances known. It is the third naturally occurring form of carbon. Although natural diamonds are commonly used in jewellery, most commercial-quality diamonds are created artificially. Small diamonds are created by squeezing graphite at high temperatures and pressures for several days or weeks, and are typically used to generate diamond tipped saw blades. Graphite and diamond are simply different in their crystal structure, despite having significantly distinct physical qualities. 

White carbon

In 1969, white carbon, a fourth allotrope of carbon, was created. It’s a transparent substance with the feature of birefringence, which allows it to split a single beam of light into two. This type of carbon is poorly understood. 

Some Important Carbon Compounds 

Saturated Carbon Compounds

Saturated compounds are carbon compounds that are satiated by a single bond between them. Ethane (C₂H₆) is a good example of this. Only a single bond completes the octet or duplet of both atoms in this case. 

Unsaturated Carbon Compounds

Unsaturated carbon compounds are made up of atoms that are only held together by double or triple bonds. Ethene – C₂H₄ is an unsaturated carbon molecule with a double bond and is an example of this. 

Conclusion

Carbon is more vital than any other element in every known biological system, and life would not be possible without it. Other than food and wood, it can be found in hydrocarbon forms such as methane gas, crude oil, and fossil fuel. Carbon fibres have a wide range of applications due to its characteristics as a lightweight, robust, and long-lasting material. These fibres can be used to make fishing rods, tennis rackets, rockets, and aeroplanes, among other things. Rocks are cut and drilled using industrial diamonds.