This web-site is devoted to the chemistry of carbon which is the chemistry of life. Carbon is the one element on which all life depends. Carbon can be found in many forms. It exists in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2) and on the Earth as fossil fuels. Coal, natural gas and petroleum are all compounds which are based on carbon.
Carbon exists in forms called allotropes which are pure forms of carbon. The most commonly known of which is diamond. The other pure carbon allotrope is graphite. Impure allotropes include charcoal, coke and lampblack.
The allotropes:
Graphite:
Graphite is a common form of carbon, it is found in countries such as Sri Lanka, U.S.A., and Germany. It is a shiny black crystalline substance which is reasonably soft to the touch.
Analysis has revealed that graphite consists of layers of carbon atoms formed in six rings. These layers can slide over each other, resulting in the soft feeling.
Diamond:
Diamonds are found in Igneous rocks and come mainly from South Africa. Diamonds structure is that of a "lattice", its atoms are arranged in a perfectly cubical shape, similar to common table salt.
Diamond is the hardest substance known to man and is used for other things besides jewellery. It is also used in drill bits and to cut glass due to its unparalleled toughness.
The cube structure of diamond.
Charcoal:
Charcoal is a black powdery solid which can be made by heating wood in a vacuum. It is used in refining sugar (In the form of coke), as a decolourising agent, as it can absorb substances onto its surfaces.
Form
Colour
Hardness
Diamond
Octahedral crystals
Transparent
Hardest natural substance
Graphite
Hexagonal plates
Grey
Soft
Charcoal
Non-crystaline
Black
Varies
Carbon Dioxide (CO2):
Carbon Dioxide is formed when carbon is burnt in plentiful amounts of air. It is a colourless and odourless gas.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) has a covalent bond between a carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
Similar to CO2, Carbon Monoxide (CO) is formed when carbon is burnt in a small amount of air.
Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are the remains of plant and animal matter which through the ages have been compressed to form fossil fuels. The main fossil fuels are: Coal, Oil, Natural Gas and Peat.
They are burned to produce large quantities of energy in the form of heat which can be converted to electricity through the use of a turbine and generator.
The problem with fossil fuels is that are a non-renewable resource of energy and at todays rate of use, exhaustion of these fuels is imminent.
Graphite:
Diamond:
Charcoal:
