Carbon

Carbon is a chemical element that plays a central role in biological life.

Carbon (chemical symbol: C) is a chemical element with the atomic number 6 and an atomic weight of about 12.01. It belongs to the group of non-metals and is the central element of organic chemistry. Carbon plays a crucial role in biological life, as all living beings need carbon in the form of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

In nature, carbon occurs both in pure form and chemically bound. Pure carbon modifications include materials such as diamond and graphite, while chemically bound forms occur, for example, in carbonates and carbon dioxide. Geologically speaking, carbon is the second most abundant element in the biosphere after oxygen.

Carbon exhibits remarkable chemical versatility as it can form up to four covalent bonds. This property enables the formation of a wide variety of complex organic compounds and contributes to the diversity of biological molecules. Additionally, carbon exists in different allotropes, each showing different physical properties. For instance, diamond is the hardest known material, while graphite exhibits high electrical conductivity.

The technical and biological significance of carbon is enormous. In industry, carbon is contained in numerous materials such as plastics and electrodes, while in biological systems, it functions as the central element of all biomolecules. Thus, carbon is indispensable for both life and technological developments.