Carbon. 203 







contains carbon as an essential constituent. This 

 element is among the most familiar and most useful 

 in its relation to art and science. It would chal- 

 lenge our admiration for the benefits it bestows up- 

 on man, if not a particle of it entered into the com- 



ition of our own bodies. But some of its highest 

 Uses arise from the fact that it takes its place among 

 the ever-changing particles of the animal system, 

 and is thus constantly oscillating between the two 



tt kingdoms of nature. no\v appearing inorganic 

 products, and then again by combustion or decay 



;ing back under the power of chemical affinity 

 into the inorganic form. Like oxygen, already de- 

 scribed, it exists, even in its uncombined state, under 

 forms so different in all their physical properties, 

 that nothing but chemistry could convince us that 

 these different-appearing substances are one and 

 the same element. 



As the diamond, carbon is the hardest and most 

 beautiful crystal known. As coal, in its various 

 forms, it is one of the chief combustible substances. 

 As plumbago, or black-lead, it is soft to the touch, 

 so that its dust is used to prevent friction ; and in 

 strong contrast to coal, it is able to withstand the 

 intense heat of a blast-furnace without combustion. 



uinly the diamond, flashing with light, as though 

 miniature suns, stars, and rainbows were gleaming 

 through its facettes ; the coal upon the glowing 

 grate ; and plumbago, one of the softest solids, defy- 

 ing heat and oxygen are three wonderful forms 

 of existence of the same substance. 



