Carbon and Environment
Carbon is a chemical element. The symbol of carbon is ―C‖ and the atomic number is 6.
Oxidation states are +2, +3, +4 and electron configuration- 1s2, 2s2, 2p2 . It belongs to group
14 of the periodic table. It's a reactive nonmetal and sometimes considered as a metalloid. Its
melting point is 3,550 ˚C and the Boiling point is 4,827 ˚C. Earth's crust contains 0.025%
Carbon in the portion of the total volume which covers that layer. Carbon has three isotopes,
they are carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14. Carbon-14 is radioactive and used in
radiocarbon dating, radiolabeling.
History of Carbon:
Carbon comes from the Latin word ―Carbo‖ means ―Coal‖. Now a question is – Who is the
inventor of carbon? But it is unknown who first discovered the carbon. At first, people
called it to charcoal. In the seventeenth century, Robert Boyle discovered that carbon was an
element. Then Antoine Lavoisier said that Diamond is an allotrope of carbon. After
Lavoisier in 1779, Carl Wilhelm discovered that graphite is also a type of carbon. And then
in 1885, a new form of carbon was discovered by a group of scientists. This type of carbon is
called buckyballs. It creates very strong materials. There is a speech that was given by
English chemist Smithson Tennant. He proved that Diamond is just a form of carbon and if
we burn it then it forms into CO2.
Physical Properties of Carbon:
According to allotropes, the physical properties of carbon vary from structure to structure.
The major allotropes are- Graphite and Diamond.
Allotropic elements are solid, non-gaseous.
Graphite is soft and spongy and diamond is hard.
If carbon is heated it does not melt, it sublimes which it is turns into gaseous form.
Diamond and graphite both are insoluble in water.
Between diamond and graphite, Diamond cannot conduct electricity but graphite can
conduct electricity properly.
Diamond is transparent and has no color but graphite is black and opaque.
Compounds of Carbon:
There are many compounds of carbon element. Here are some important compounds of
carbon—
Carbon dioxide (CO2 )
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4 )
Methane (CH4 ) Etc.
About more than 1 million carbon compounds have been discovered in chemical literature
and chemists are trying to discover new compounds of carbon.
Uses of Carbon in everyday life:
People don’t know that in our everyday life Carbon is used. There are many uses. Here are
some important uses of carbon in everyday life.
To make a pencil graphite is used. We know that graphite is an allotrope of carbon. It
also uses to make steel.
To make ink and paints amorphous carbon is used. To make batteries carbon is used
also.
Carbon is also used for making jewelry. Because diamond is an allotrope of carbon.
And diamond is very precious and its glitters event attracts all people.
Diamond is also used in many industries. Such as- in glass factories is used to cut,
polish, and design work.
It is a very interesting matter that about 18% of our human body is made of carbon.
We eat food to get the energy that is called carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are
made by the elements of carbon.
Another important use is carbon dating. To do it we use Carbon-14 isotope. By using
this we can measure the age of things. Such as- Age of Fossil, Bone, etc.
Other uses of Carbon:
Carbon is the main element of Coal. Coal is used in many factories and power plants
are using coal to produce electricity.
To protect shining surfaces such as razor blades, Diamond films are used.
To make brushes that are used in electric motors and furnace things.
For purification and filtration activated charcoal (From wood) is used. Example:
Respirators and kitchen extractor hoods are made with activated charcoal.
Carbon is an element that can create strongly bonded chains. By this kind of chain, it
forms hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are extracted under the ground as fossil
fuel, coal, gas, etc. From these, a very small portion of hydrocarbons is used in
petrochemical industries to make polymers, fibers, paints, etc.
Carbon nanotubes, other fullerenes, and atom-thin sheets of graphene have created a
revolution in electronics industries. For these reasons, Nanotechnology is developing
day by day.
Carbon fibers are used to make tennis rackets, skis, fishing rods, rockets, and
airplanes. Because carbon fiber is a very strong, yet lightweight material.
Carbon is used to produce Urea fertilizer. This fertilizer is used for more food in a
short time.
Important Roles of Carbon:
Carbon is a very important element for humans and the environment. There are many roles in
carbon. Earth’s atmosphere contains carbon as CO2. It has an important benefit for us.
Carbon dioxide can hold the temperature that comes from the Sun. It is the source of all
power. So carbon dioxide keeps the Earth warm and helps to sustain life. In the atmosphere,
carbon dioxide allows visible light in and prevents some infrared rays.
The biological role of carbon:
Scientists thought that carbon-based molecules of life could only be obtained from living
things. But in 1828, scientists discovered that urea produce from inorganic reagents. From
this event, inorganic chemistry was united. Urea is used as fertilizer and this fertilizer is using
for more crop production in a short time.
Living things get carbon from carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide can dissolve into water and
photosynthetic plankton can get carbon dioxide from water to make its food. This process
produces oxygen and Hydrogen in water. Oxygen is a very important element for fish and
other water animals. Carbon dioxide is also important for trees. The photosynthesis process
needs carbon dioxide to produce food for trees and from this event, trees produce Oxygen as
a byproduct. And oxygen is very important in our life.
DNA, RNA, amino acids for proteins are created from carbon. These elements are important
for our human body. All plant cells are made of cellulose and cellulose is made of carbon.
Effects of Carbon on Environment:
Carbon has a much good side for our environment but there are more bad sides. Carbon helps
Earth to keep warm. We know that excess everything is very bad. Carbon has a compound
name Carbon dioxide. It is increasing day by day for our many activities. Earth's atmosphere
contained 280 ppm of carbon dioxide about 150 years ago. Then in 2013 the rate of that
increased and reached about 390 ppm. It is increasing because of fossil fuel burning and cut
down trees at an alarming rate. The bad sides of carbon dioxide are—
Increasing temperature of Earth and Earth’s atmosphere. It is called global warming.
As a result, polar Ice-caps are melting at an alarming rate and Seawater levels in
increasing. If we can't decrease or stop this melting process many island states will go
underwater.
Carbon dioxide also damages the Ozone layer. It is very important for us. Because it
prevents the Ultra violate rays to enter the earth's atmosphere. Ultra violate rays can
produce cancer cell in our body.
Carbon dioxide is also the reason for Climate change. The extinction rate of various
species of plants and animals is increasing due to climate change. It is very bad for
our environment.
There is also a carbon compound name Methane. It is also increasing the temperature of the
Earth's atmosphere. This temperature increasing event is not good for us.
Which steps can we take to decrease the environmental dangers of
Carbon?
At first, we should plant more and more trees. Trees can reduce carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere.
By using renewable energy such as- water flow, Sun rays, Airflow, etc.
We can't remove Carbon dioxide and Methane from the atmosphere. So we need to
reduce the formation of Carbon dioxide and methane gas.
To avoid unnecessary household energy use.
Increasing investments in renewable energy sources.
To increase public awareness about global warming.
1. By eating less meat. Because it is the most powerful lifestyle change that can make
people help the planet.
2. Reducing food waste.
3. By using recycle process.
4. To repair the objects without buying a new one.
By reducing the plastic we can reduce carbon.
By using compost fertilizers.
Install solar power plant.
By driving an electric car.
By watching the environmental documentary.
Taking part in a rally related to environmental problems.
By investing in climate change solution innovations.
By educating children. It is the most powerful option.
To increase investment in Environment research.
References:
https://thegreenhubonline.com/2019/05/21/50-things-you-can-do-about-climate-
change/
https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element/Compounds
https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element
https://www.toppr.com/guides/chemistry/carbon-and-its-compounds/carbon/
https://www.rsc.org/periodictable/element/6/carbon#:~:text=Impure%20carbon%20in
%20the%20form,used%20for%20purification%20and%20filtration.
Author:
Md.Rayhan Sojib
Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences
The University of Barishal.
Gmail: [email protected]
