Carbon

Carbon (C)

Carbon (Latin: carbo, "coal") is a chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds. It belongs to group 14 of the periodic table.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkɑːrbən/

Etymology

The name carbon comes from the Latin word carbo, which means "coal". The discovery of carbon dates back to prehistoric times, but it was first recognized as an element by Antoine Lavoisier in the late 18th century.

Related Terms

• Carbon cycle
• Carbon footprint
• Carbon dating
• Carbon dioxide
• Carbon monoxide
• Carbon nanotube
• Carbon fiber
• Carbon sequestration

Medical Relevance

In medicine, carbon is used in various forms for different purposes. Activated carbon is used in emergency treatment for certain kinds of poisoning and overdoses, to absorb toxins and chemicals in the gut. Carbon dioxide is used in medical procedures to inflate body cavities for easier viewing. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a common type of fatal air poisoning.

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Carbon
• Wikipedia's article - Carbon

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