Carbon

The element carbon can be found is numerous compounds. It is the sixth most common element in the universe. It can be found in the food you consume, the clothing you wear, the cosmetics you use, and fuel for cars. Carbon is considered a very important element because it plays such a key role in the chemistry of life. It was discovered in ancient times by the burning of organic materials thus producing charcoal. Carbon has four known allotopes: amorphous, graphite, diamonds, and fullerene. Recently, a fifth spongy and extremely lightweight allotrope of carbon was found. Carbon has six electrons, four of which are in its valence shell. Since it only holds 4 out of eight possible valences in the outer shell, carbon can combine with other elements and itself. This allows many different possibilities of compounds to form varying in size and shape. Carbon alone can form graphite and diamonds. Graphite is a very soft and slippery. Diamonds are known to be the hardest substance known to man. The manor of the way carbon atoms bond allows them to take on different proprieties. Although