The Importance of Carbon: An Overlooked Element

Carbon is a fundamental element found in various forms such as diamonds, coal, and in the air we exhale. It is non-metallic, tetravalent, and plays a crucial role in forming covalent bonds. Carbon ranks as the fourth most abundant element in the universe and is essential for life. Historically recognized by Antoine Lavoisier, carbon is vital in organic chemistry, forming diverse compounds and polymers. Its allotropes, like diamond and graphite, exhibit different properties due to varied atomic bonding. Carbon's presence in organic compounds is ubiquitous, underscoring its importance.

Which element is known for being non-metallic and tetravalent, allowing it to form covalent bonds with other non-metallic elements?

• Silver

• Helium

• Carbon

• Gold

Who recognized carbon as an element in 1789?

• Dmitri Mendeleev

• Marie Curie

• Isaac Newton

• Antoine Lavoisier

What is the term for the property of elements to bond in different ways but remain in the same physical state, as seen in carbon?

• Symmetry

• Polymorphism

• Allotropy

• Isotropy

Which of the following is a soft form of carbon used in pencils?

• Fullerene

• Graphite

• Diamond

• Charcoal

What branch of chemistry studies matter composed of carbon atoms, often found in products like perfumes and sprays?

• Inorganic Chemistry

• Physical Chemistry

• Organic Chemistry

• Analytical Chemistry