Carbon

Atomic Number:	6
Symbol:	C
Atomic weight:	12.011
Discovery:	Carbon exists free in nature and has been known since prehistoric time.
Electron Configuration:	[He]2s²2p²
Word Origin:	Latin carbo, German Kohlenstoff, French carbone: coal or charcoal
Isotopes:	There are seven natural isotopes of carbon. In 1961 the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry adopted the isotope carbon-12 as the basis for atomic weights.
Properties:	Carbon is found free in nature in three allotropic forms: amorphous (lampblack, boneblack), graphite, and diamond. A fourth form, 'white' carbon, is thought to exist. Diamond is one of the hardest substances, with a high melting point and index of refraction.
Uses:	Carbon forms numerous and varied compounds with limitless applications. Many thousands of carbon compounds are integral to life processes. Diamond is prized as a gemstone and is used for cutting, drilling, and as bearings. Graphite is used as a crucible for melting metals, in pencils, for rust protection, for lubrication, and as a moderator for slowing neutrons for atomic fission. Amorphous carbon is used for removing tastes and odors.