Appearance
Carbon can exist as either black Graphite (also known as Charcoal when in the powdered form) or as the colourless gem Diamond.

Source
Carbon is found in abundance in the sun, stars, cometary bodies and the atmospheres of most planets.

Graphite is found naturally in many locations. Diamond is found in the form of microscopic crystals in some meteorites. Natural Diamonds are found in the mineral Kimberlite, sources of which are in South Africa, Arkansas and elsewhere.

About 30% of all industrial Diamonds used in the USA are made synthetically.

Carbon is found in combination in hydrocarbons (Methane, Oil and Coal) and Carbonates (Limestone and Dolomite).

Uses
Carbon can form a vast number and variety of compounds. With Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and other elements it forms very large numbers of compounds, Carbon atom often being linked to Carbon atom.

The ability to form chains is unique to Carbon, and it is thought to be an important reason for the dependance of life on this element. It also allows for the production of such varied products as nylon and petrol, perfume and plastics, shoe polish, DDT and TNT.

General Information
Graphite is one of the softest known materials, while Diamond is one of the hardest. The difference is purely due to the arrangement of the atoms in the two forms. In Graphite, the atoms are arranged in hexagonal rings which form sheets which lie one on top of the other. In Diamond the atoms are arranged tetrahedrally in a vast continuous array.

The isotope ¹²C is used as the basis for measuring atomic masses. The isotope ¹⁴C has a half-life of 5730 years and has been widely used to date archeological samples in a technique called 'Carbon Dating'.

Carbon is the basis of all life as part of the DNA molecule. There are millions of known Carbon compounds, many thousands of which are vital to organic and life processes.