Carbon (from Latin:carbo "coal") is a chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. On the periodic table, it is the first (row 2) of six elements in column (group) 14, which have in common the composition of their outer electron shell. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds.
Three reasons Carbon stands out
1
Forms the basis of organic chemistry.
2
Can form materials that are either very hard or soft and flaky.
3
One of its forms helps scientists estimate the age of ancient remains.
One element, radically different materials
Diamond, graphite, graphene, soot, and charcoal are all forms of carbon, distinguished by how their atoms connect. Carbon’s four bonding sites support chains, rings, sheets, and three-dimensional frameworks. That versatility is why carbon chemistry can describe both living cells and advanced engineered materials.
Recognizing Carbon in Elementle
If Carbon is the mystery element, guesses below atomic number 6 point up and guesses above it point down. Its symbol is C: a green letter matches the same position in that symbol, while a yellow letter belongs in another position.
The family clue turns green for nonmetal guesses. Compare Nitrogen (N), number 7 and Oxygen (O), number 8: they share the family clue, but their atomic numbers and symbols help you tell them apart.
Values are reference data, not a specification for every temperature, pressure, or allotrope. Unknown properties are left unavailable. Superheavy-element predictions remain uncertain.
The introduction and original editorial story are adapted from Wikipedia contributors via Periodic-Table-JSON. Element descriptions and their adaptations are available under CC BY-SA 3.0. Numerical attributes use the PubChem periodic-table dataset, retrieved September 22, 2026.