Autobiography of Carbon

Name: Carbon
Element Symbol: C
Date of Birth: 2nd half of 18th Century
Father: A.L. Lavoisier

My name is Carbon. One of my amazing properties is, I make long

chains and rings with myself. Humans have named this property of
mine as “CATENATION”. The compounds formed with my fellow
element, hydrogen are called hydrocarbons. Before I start anything, I
want to say that every organism and living being on this planet is
made up of me. I am present in nature in maximum quantity with my
carbon 12 isotope. I have three allotropes in Earth: Diamond,
Graphite and fullerenes.

As you might already know, my 1st allotrope, diamond is the hardest

known material till date. Due to my shiny nature, humans wear me in
the form of rings. Humans, also create me in labs. But they are
nowhere near to my natural form ( ͡~ ͜ʖ͡°). I am also used to cut me.
Does that even make sense :)? I think, that is enough of my first face.
Moving on to my second allotrope, Graphite. Did you know that
“GRAPHITE” in Greek (a language used by humans) translates to
“WRITE”? You may have already guessed my most important use;
yes! It is used to make pencil leads. I am also used to make lubricants
and am also used in paints. Can you guess why? It is because, I, by
nature repel water! I am also used in nuclear reactors as I can absorb
fast moving neutrons, and hence used to stabilise reactions.
In my third allotrope, i.e., fullerene, my molecules are arranged in
series and form a cage like structure. This allotrope of mine is hollow
in nature. I am highly symmetrical in this allotrope. I am a good
oxidising agent since I can easily accept 3 or more electrons. I also
exhibit superconductivity. Now, humans use me as a conductor,
absorbent for gases, lubricant, cosmetics, biomedical applications
and nanotubes-based fabrics and fibres. I (fullerene), can exist in
various forms depending on the number of carbon atoms present.
The amorphous form of me (carbon) is also used to make paints, inks
and batteries. I am also used to measure the age of things! Using a
rare of isotope of me, Carbon 14, humans measure the age of fossils,
bones, etc. The release of Carbon 14 is used to estimate the age of
said organic substances. Humans are yet to unravel many of my
mysteries, and I hope they do so. If they do, I will update this
autobiography. Signing off,

Carbon