carbon
Sign in to saveCarbon () is a chemical element; it has symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—meaning that its atoms are able to form up to four covalent bonds due to its valence shell exhibiting 4 electrons. It belongs to group 14 of the periodic table. Carbon makes up about 0.025 percent of Earth's crust. Three isotopes occur naturally, C and C being stable, while C is a radionuclide, decaying with a half-life of 5,700 years. Carbon is one of the few elements known since antiquity.
AI overview
Carbon is a chemical element that forms the basis of countless substances because each of its atoms can create up to four bonds with other atoms. It has been known since ancient times and makes up a small but significant part of Earth's crust, with some forms of carbon being naturally radioactive.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Chemical data
- Formula
- C
- Molecular weight
- 12.011 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- methane
via PubChem
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- atmophile element
- Part of
- group 14
- Named after
- coal
- Mass
- +12.011
- Image
- Coal anthracite.jpg
Show 5 more facts
- P910
- Category:Carbon
Article
22 sectionsContents
- Characteristics
- Chemical
- Allotropes
- Isotopes
- Occurrence
- Formation in stars
- Carbon cycle
- Compounds
- Organic compounds
- Inorganic compounds
- Organometallic compounds
- History and etymology
- Production
- Graphite
- Diamond
- Applications
- Diamonds
- Precautions
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Carbon () is a chemical element; it has symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—meaning that its atoms are able to form up to four covalent bonds due to its valence shell exhibiting 4 electrons. It belongs to group 14 of the periodic table. Carbon makes up about 0.025 percent of Earth's crust. Three isotopes occur naturally, C and C being stable, while C is a radionuclide, decaying with a half-life of 5,700 years. Carbon is one of the few elements known since antiquity.
Carbon is the 15th most abundant element in the Earth's crust, and the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen. Carbon's abundance, its unique diversity of organic compounds, and its unusual ability to form polymers at the temperatures commonly encountered on Earth, enables it to serve as the common element of all known life. It is the second most abundant element in the human body by mass (about 18.5%) after oxygen.