Is Carbon a Metal, Nonmetal or Metalloid?
Carbon is a non-metal. It is a chemical element, listed on the periodic table as atomic number 6. It is abundantly found throughout the universe and is primarily found in coal deposits.
Carbon is an allotrope, meaning it is element found in two or more forms. The three forms of carbon are amorphous, graphite and diamond. Amorphous carbon is found in the charred remains of objects not completely burned by fire. It is sooty in texture and is commonly used in paints, inks and rubber products. Graphite is a soft material that is mainly used as a commercial lubricant. It is also used in the form of coke; a fuel used in metallurgy to reduce metallic oxides in metals. Coke is heavily used in the production of steel and is made by heating coal in an industrial oven without allowing oxygen to mix with it. Diamond is extremely rare. It is popularly known as a high-value gemstone and its used in jewelry, but because it is one of the hardest known substances, it is commonly used in heavy industry for cutting, grinding and drilling.
