intro+to+carbon

Organic chemistry is a field of science that focuses on the carbon atom and the molecules that contain [|carbon].

What do you know about carbon? Here are a few facts.
 * carbon is a nonmetal, but in some forms it can conduct electricity
 * a carbon atom has six protons and six electrons
 * carbon has three naturally occurring isotopes - carbon-12 (~99% of all C), carbon-13 (~1% of all C) and carbon-14 (<1% of all C)
 * carbon-14 is radioactive and has a half-life of 5730 years. It is used as a benchmark in carbon dating
 * carbon occurs pure in nature as graphite and diamond
 * carbon can bond with itself and be catenized - formed into long chains and rings
 * carbon has been formed into nanotubes and fullerenes (buckyballs)
 * carbon nanotubes are extremely good electrical conductors
 * carbon fiber is extremely strong and is used in body armor, building material, tennis racquets and golf club shafts
 * the human body is 18% carbon by mass

Organic compounds are those that contain at least one carbon atom. There are millions upon millions of organic compounds - here are a few.
 * methane is the simplest molecule containing carbon; you have also likely heard of propane, butane, and octane (fossil fuels)
 * carbon dioxide is another common compound, and is a vital part of life on earth
 * sugars are carbon-based: glucose, sucrose, starches, cellulose, etc.
 * bio-oils such as vegetable oil, olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil are all hydrocarbons
 * formaldehyde is an organic compound that is used as a preservative; it is also a known carcinogen
 * benzene, found in cigarette smoke, is highly carcinogenic
 * pharmaceuticals are organic compounds; examples are NSAIDs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and acetylsalicylic acid.
 * amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and enzymes - large organic molecules
 * DNA, RNA, and their base pairs A, T, G, C, and U are organic compounds
 * most chemicals found in soaps, cleaners, shampoos, cosmetics, etc. are organic compounds
 * food dyes. Blue-1, for example, has 37 carbons in its structure.
 * this list could go on for quite some time, so we'll end it here.

__Carbon and its electronic structure__

Why is carbon so unique compared to the rest of the elements? Why can it form long chains with itself? The answers are somewhat complicated, but carbon's unique blend of somewhat strong electronegativity and C-C bond strength, along with its ability to hybridize and bond to four atoms, gives it many abilities.

Hybridization is described as the blending of traditional atomic orbitals (such as s and p orbitals) to form hybrids - mixed breeds of orbitals. Carbon is one of the best at hybridizing, and here's how it does it.