Carbon is a non-metallic material found in organic and inorganic materials. Crystalline forms include diamond and graphite, while amorphous carbon is used in various products. Black carbon can cause health and environmental problems, including asthma and climate change.
The element carbon is a non-metallic material that contains six electrons. Charcoal, a form of carbon, has been used since prehistoric times. The name carbon comes from the Latin word carbo which means coal. Carbon can be found in organic material such as plants and animals and in inorganic materials such as minerals and ores. Elemental carbon refers to the inorganic forms of carbon that can be found in crystalline and amorphous forms.
The crystalline forms have elementary carbon atoms arranged in a regular pattern while the carbon atoms in the amorphous forms have no regular pattern. The two crystalline forms of elemental carbon are diamond and graphite. The crystalline structure of diamond is formed by each carbon atom forming a covalent bond by sharing a pair of electrons with four other carbon atoms. Covalent bonds are the strongest chemical bonds known to mankind. Diamonds are the hardest known and least volatile substance with a melting point of 6.242°F (3.550°C).
The crystalline structure of graphite is made up of carbon atoms forming tight hexagonal bonds with other atoms in the same plane and looser bonding between atoms in different planes. A loose bond between the planes makes the graphite very soft and allows the graphite to be used as a lubricant. Unlike diamonds, graphite is a good electrical conductor.
Before 1955, all diamonds came from natural deposits. In 1955, laboratory tests showed that applying high pressure and temperature to graphite in the presence of a catalyst could create synthetic diamonds. Synthetic diamonds are mainly used for industrial purposes.
Amorphous carbon is created when a carbon-containing material is burned without sufficient oxygen to allow for complete combustion. The resulting carbon black can be used to make dry cell cores, inks, paints, and is a staple in the manufacture of rubber products. Black carbon is also the byproduct of forest fires and insufficient burning of fuels in automobiles, manufacturing plants, and coal-based power generation. Diesel fuel creates more carbon black than gasoline during combustion. Black carbon can cause both health and environmental problems.
One fine particulate matter that can cause health problems is amorphous elemental carbon. Asthma and chronic bronchitis have been linked to carbon black, and there is some evidence that carbon black or soot may increase the risk of emphysema and lung cancer. Black carbon is also a factor in climate change. Because black carbon stays in the atmosphere for weeks rather than a century compared to carbon dioxide, reducing black carbon emissions is seen as one of the fastest ways to reduce the effects of global climate change.
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