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Carbon



Carbon, chemical element, symbol C; for physical constants see Periodic Table. Carbon is nonmetallic and was discovered in ancient times. It occurs in 3 allotropic forms: amorphous (as in coal or charcoal), graphite, and diamond. All living things contain carbon, which forms more compounds than any other element. Organic chemistry, the study of carbon compounds, is therefore a major field in biology and medicine.



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21st Century Webster's Family Encyclopedia21st Century Webster's Family Encyclopedia - Cannon to Catherine