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Allotropes of carbonCarbonChemical elementsChemical elements with hexagonal planar structure

Carbon

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

Two forms of the element carbon: a sparkling diamond crystal from South Africa and a piece of graphite from Mexico.

What is Carbon?

Carbon is a special kind of material that is very important for our world. It is one of the building blocks of everything alive, including you and me! Carbon can change its shape and form in many ways, making different materials with very different looks and feels.

Where Do We Find Carbon?

Carbon is found all around us. It is in the air we breathe, in the water we drink, and in the ground. You can find carbon in rocks like limestones, in fuels like coal and oil, and even deep under the ocean in methane clathrates. Plants use carbon from the air to grow, and animals, including us, use carbon to stay alive.

Cool Forms of Carbon

Carbon can change into different forms, called allotropes. Two famous ones are graphite and diamond. Graphite is very soft and is what makes the “lead” in pencils. It can also be used to make things slide smoothly. Diamond is super strong and sparkles beautifully, making it perfect for jewelry and cutting tools.

Why is Carbon Important?

Carbon is super important because it helps make life possible. It is a big part of all living things and helps create many important materials. For example, carbon helps make sugars, fats, and even the instructions inside our bodies called DNA. Without carbon, our world would be very different!

Images

A large piece of glassy carbon next to a small graphite cube for size comparison, used to show the properties of different carbon forms.
A scientific diagram showing the emission spectrum of the element carbon, helpful for learning about atomic physics.
A sample of graphite ore, a naturally occurring mineral used in pencils and other products.
A colorful map showing the amount of dissolved inorganic carbon in the world's oceans during the 1990s, created from scientific data.
Diagram showing how plants (autotrophs) use sunlight to make food, and how animals (heterotrophs) use that food for energy.
A world map showing diamond production in 2005, with bubble sizes indicating output percentages.
An image showing mechanical pencil leads spilling out of their plastic case – a common school or art supply.
Four vine charcoal sticks and four compressed charcoal sticks used for drawing.
A close-up view of carbon fibre material, showcasing its woven texture.
A sparkling diamond crystal found in rock formations.
Portrait of Carl Wilhelm Scheele, an 18th-century Swedish chemist, from a historical publication.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Carbon, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.