CHAPTER IX 

 CARBON 



(Carbon == C) 



Introduction. Carbon, though perhaps not known 

 by that name, in some form is known to all of us. 

 We are all familiar with the black soot which collects 

 on the side of a lamp-chimney from the burning of an 

 unevenly trimmed lamp wick. To this substance the 

 name lampblack is given. 



All have seen the charred remains of bones that 

 have been roasted out of reach of air. This substance 

 we know as bone black. Charcoal, too, is somewhat 

 familiar from its use in filtering water or as a deo- 

 dorizer, while coke and coal are known as our chief 

 sources of fuel for heating purposes. The so-called 

 lead of the lead pencil is graphite, a form of carbon, while 

 the diamond is another form. 



As widely as these substances vary in physical 

 properties, yet each is chiefly carbon. Carbon is the 

 most widely distributed of all the known elements. It 

 is found in all living matter, whether plant or animal, 

 and it also forms a considerable part of the earth's 

 crust. In the uncombined or free state it is found as 

 diamond, coal, and graphite. 



