Overview
Carbon, the sixth element in the periodic table, is a cornerstone of human understanding of life itself. It is versatile, capable of forming countless compounds, and a fundamental building block in organic chemistry.
- Symbol: C
- Atomic Number: 6
- Category: Nonmetal
- Discovered: Known since ancient times
Applications
Carbon is indispensable in the world around us. From diamonds to graphite, its allotropes have varied and critical uses. It is central to biological compounds and is found in coal, petroleum, and is a major component of steel.