Carbon Carbon

““You will die but the You will die but the carboncarbon will not; its career does not will not; its career does not end with you. It will return to the soil, and there a plant end with you. It will return to the soil, and there a plant may take it up again in time, sending it once more on a may take it up again in time, sending it once more on a

cycle of plant and animal life.” cycle of plant and animal life.” -Jacob-Jacob

Boring Carbon InformationBoring Carbon Information

Carbon’s symbol used on the periodic Carbon’s symbol used on the periodic table and in chemical equations is “C”table and in chemical equations is “C”

Atomic number of carbon is six, meaning Atomic number of carbon is six, meaning each atom contains six protons and a each atom contains six protons and a matching number of electronsmatching number of electrons

Atomic mass is 12.0107Atomic mass is 12.0107NonmetalNonmetal

Interesting Carbon Facts…Interesting Carbon Facts…

There are many allotropes (differing structural There are many allotropes (differing structural configurations of an element) of carbon, one of configurations of an element) of carbon, one of them being the hardest substance known to man them being the hardest substance known to man – diamond, and the softest – ceraphite (very – diamond, and the softest – ceraphite (very similar to graphite)similar to graphite)

Carbon is currently recognized as the fourth Carbon is currently recognized as the fourth most abundant substance in the universe, most abundant substance in the universe, ranked by mass.ranked by mass.

Carbon has the highest melting and sublimation Carbon has the highest melting and sublimation point of all elementspoint of all elements

Electron ConfigurationElectron Configuration

1s1s22 2s 2s22 2p 2p22

This configuration tells us that there are 4 This configuration tells us that there are 4 electrons available to form covalent electrons available to form covalent

chemical bonds. The configuration can chemical bonds. The configuration can also be written as also be written as [He]2s22p2[He]2s22p2 since since

helium’s electron configuration is 1shelium’s electron configuration is 1s2 2 ..

Carbon is SpecialCarbon is Special

Carbon’s unique structure Carbon’s unique structure gives it the ability to create gives it the ability to create many different polymers many different polymers (almost an infinite amount (almost an infinite amount of variations of of variations of polysaccharides can be polysaccharides can be formed). This is the reason formed). This is the reason Carbon is the element that Carbon is the element that is the basis of life.is the basis of life.

DNADNA

Even your DNA and Even your DNA and RNA is composed RNA is composed mainly of carbon. mainly of carbon. Deoxyribose is a Deoxyribose is a slight variation of slight variation of ribose, which exists ribose, which exists in abundance in in abundance in nature.nature.

CarbohydratesCarbohydrates

To the left is a diagram To the left is a diagram of the of the monosaccharide D-monosaccharide D-glucose and below is glucose and below is glucose and fructose.glucose and fructose.

CarbohydratesCarbohydrates

Also known as saccharides,or sugars,are vital in Also known as saccharides,or sugars,are vital in the many functions of living things. They provide the many functions of living things. They provide the means of energy storage and transfer and the means of energy storage and transfer and

are necessary for the immune system, are necessary for the immune system, fertilization, growth and more. Carbohydrates fertilization, growth and more. Carbohydrates

are the most common source of energy for living are the most common source of energy for living things. These organic compounds always things. These organic compounds always

contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of one part carbon, one part oxygen, and two of one part carbon, one part oxygen, and two

parts hydrogen. Pasta, bread, potatoes, cereal, parts hydrogen. Pasta, bread, potatoes, cereal, beans, and rice all contain high amounts of beans, and rice all contain high amounts of

carbohydrates.carbohydrates.

Food Miles & Carbon FootprintsFood Miles & Carbon Footprints

The term “carbon footprint” concerns The term “carbon footprint” concerns environmental friendliness and pollution and environmental friendliness and pollution and

refers to carbon emissions into the atmosphere. refers to carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Carbon emission (usually in the form of COCarbon emission (usually in the form of CO22) is ) is

the main contributor to global warming. the main contributor to global warming. Heightened levels of carbon dioxide in the Heightened levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere alters its function, causing it to atmosphere alters its function, causing it to

absorb more heat and reflect less UV rays. The absorb more heat and reflect less UV rays. The food industry as a whole has become aware of food industry as a whole has become aware of

this and many companies have taken measures this and many companies have taken measures to reduce their carbon emissions in hopes of to reduce their carbon emissions in hopes of

slowing down this negative effect.slowing down this negative effect.

Food Miles & Carbon FootprintsFood Miles & Carbon Footprints

Believe it or not, the food industry is one of Believe it or not, the food industry is one of the largest contributors to global warming. the largest contributors to global warming.

The concept of food miles is used in The concept of food miles is used in determining food’s environmental impact. determining food’s environmental impact.

Basically, it states that there is a Basically, it states that there is a relationship between the average number relationship between the average number of miles that food travels from the farm to of miles that food travels from the farm to

the plate and climate change. the plate and climate change.

Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

The carbon cycle describes how the billions of tons The carbon cycle describes how the billions of tons of carbon are cycled between the atmosphere, of carbon are cycled between the atmosphere, the ocean, living things and non-living things. the ocean, living things and non-living things. Carbon gets exchanged through decomposition, Carbon gets exchanged through decomposition, respiration, fermentation, photosynthesis, respiration, fermentation, photosynthesis, weathering, combustion, and sedimentation. weathering, combustion, and sedimentation. Surprisingly, the ocean contains the highest Surprisingly, the ocean contains the highest amount of carbon as sediment. This carbon is amount of carbon as sediment. This carbon is known as inorganic carbon because the known as inorganic carbon because the compounds have no carbon to carbon or carbon compounds have no carbon to carbon or carbon to hydrogen bonds.to hydrogen bonds.

ReferencesReferences

Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Carbon. Carbon. Retrieved November 19, 2008, fromRetrieved November 19, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon

Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates. Retrieved November 19, 2008, Retrieved November 19, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbohydratesfrom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbohydrates

Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Food Miles. Food Miles. Retrieved November 19, 2008, from Retrieved November 19, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_mileshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_miles

Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Carbon Cycle. Carbon Cycle. Retrieved November 19, 2008, Retrieved November 19, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_cyclefrom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_cycle

Thinkexist. Thinkexist. Carbon quotes. Carbon quotes. Retrieved November 19, 2008, Retrieved November 19, 2008, from http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/carbon/from http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/carbon/