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Naming History
Carbon derives its name from tha Latin word for charcoal, carbo, from which it was first isolated.
Discovery
The initial creation of Carbon occured in the early history of the universe when three Helium atoms combined together. Many ancient civilizations used Carbon without truly understanding it. This included anthracite, graphite and diamonds as well as the charcoal that remained behind after burning wood. Early chemists were correctly able to identify that these all consisted of the same unknown element. Many experiments were conducted on diamonds and other forms of Carbon including destroying them with heat from the sunlight leading to no remaining ash. It wasn't until 1792 when Antoine Lavoisier showed that when these were heated no water was formed and an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) was formed. This experiment proved that charcoal and diamonds were made up of a single element which he named Carbon.
Characteristics
Carbon is arguably the most important element for human life and is necessary for life to exist.
Almost everything that we eat (fats, carbonhydrates, proteins, fiber) are made up of Carbon.
The average human consumes upwards up 300 g of Carbon per day.
Carbon is the second most abundant element in the boday, accounting for approximately 16 kg, much of which is located in tissues which are 67% Carbon.
The Earth's crust is also high in Carbon at 480 parts per million (ppm), making it the 15th most abundant element.
Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe.
Oceans and other seawater sources contain up to 28 ppm Carbon.
The atmosphere has many different sources of Carbon such as carbon dioxide (395 ppm), methane (1.9 ppm) and carbon monoxide (0.1 ppm).
Naturally Occurring Minerals
There is more Carbon extracted from the Earth then any other element. Carbon can be extracted from the Earth in its elemental form in two allotropes. The most common allotropes found in nature are graphite and diamond, with 34 tonnes of diamond and 1 million tonnes of graphite mined per year. Besides graphite and diamond, one of the most carbon rich substances found in nature is coal, which is 92-98% Carbon. Carbon also makes up fossil fuels, oil, and natural gas, which are extracted from the Earth at a rate of roughly 10 billion tonnes per year. The most oxidized form of Carbon is carbonate (CO3 2-), which is the major component in limestone, dolomite and marble. Carbon is also present in the atmosphere as methane and carbon dioxide.
Where can I find this element @ home
Carbon exists in a vast amount of chemical compounds, where almost 10 million compounds containing carbon are known to date.
Almost all food and drink has Carbon in the form of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and fiber.
Diamonds that are used in jewerly are a common place to find Carbon in the household.
The lead in pencils is made of a combination of graphite and other compounds.
Water filters typically contain a form of Carbon called Activated Carbon to remove impurities from water.
Carbon fibers are often used to reinforce plastics such as skis, fishing rods, racquets, and even the body of some automobiles.
Steel receives its strength by the addition of Carbon.
Carbon can be found in refrigerants (e.g. the coolant in your refrigerator, freezer, or air conditioner).
Many Carbon-based compounds are used as lubricants and solvents, such as paint thinner or mineral spirits.
Plastic bottles, materials, and furniture are made of long Carbon chains, known as polymers.
Saw blades and cutting tools that are used to cut very hard substances gain their strength through the presence of Carbon.
Wool, cashmere, and silk are examples of Carbon-containing clothing materials.