Carbon

Carbon is a chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6. It is a non-metallic element that is essential for life on Earth. Carbon is known for its ability to form a wide variety of compounds due to its unique bonding properties.

Properties of Carbon:

Atomic number: 6
Symbol: C
Atomic mass: 12.01
Physical state at room temperature: Solid
Color: Black (in its purest form as graphite)
Boiling point: 4827 degrees Celsius
Electron configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p²

Forms of Carbon:

Carbon exists in several allotropic forms, including:

Diamond
Graphite
Fullerenes (such as buckyballs and carbon nanotubes)
Amorphous carbon (such as charcoal and soot)

Role of Carbon in Biology:

Carbon is the backbone of organic molecules, which form the basis of all living organisms. It is a key component of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, which are essential for life processes.

Study Guide:

What is the atomic number of carbon?
What are the different forms of carbon?
How does carbon contribute to the biological processes?
What are some common compounds of carbon?
How is carbon used in industry and technology?

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Second Grade. What is science?

Vocabulary/Answer key

What is science?

The resources above cover the following skills:

LIFE SCIENCE

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Obtain information from literature and other media to illustrate that there are many different kinds of living things and that they exist in different places on land and in water (e.g., woodland, tundra, desert, rainforest, ocean, river).

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

Earth’s Systems

Make observations from media to obtain information about Earth’s events that happen over a short period of time (e.g., tornados, volcanic explosions, earthquakes) or over a time period longer than one can observe (e.g., erosion of rocks, melting of glaciers).

Collect and evaluate data to identify water found on Earth and determine whether it is a solid or a liquid (e.g., glaciers as solid forms of water; oceans, lakes, rivers, streams as liquid forms of water).