Page 145 - The Periodic Table Book

Uses
Diamond blade saw Water purifier filter

This carbon filter Battery
absorbs harmful
chemicals in water. This battery
has a graphite
core that carries
Sturdy and electric current. The Carbon Group
lightweight frame

This sharp blade Carbon-fibre bicycle
is coated with
tiny diamonds. This
strong but
light frame is
made by fusing
together carbon
fibres.

This wheel is
composed of carbon
fibre and some other This flame is fuelled
materials, which by carbon-rich oil.
make it rigid.
Soft graphite leaves a mark
when pressed against paper. Pencil “lead” containing graphite, not lead
Kerosene lamp

This flexible plastic material
is composed of chains of carbon
HARD AND SOFT CARBON and hydrogen atoms.

Diamond and graphite have different properties because
of the arrangement of their atoms – tetrahedrons in
diamond, and sheets of hexagons in graphite.

Hard as diamond Soft as graphite Polythene bag
The tetrahedron, or pyramid Graphite contains layers of
structure, of atoms creates carbon atoms that slide over
a rigid shape that is equally each other easily, as there are
strong in all directions. only weak forces between them.

can cut into anything. Only a diamond can to have harmful environmental and health
cut another diamond. Graphite is much softer, effects. Crude oil, natural gas, and coal are
which is why it is used in pencil “lead”. It is hydrocarbons (compounds containing only
also used in some batteries. Coal is currently hydrogen and carbon) that occur in nature.
the largest source of fuel for the generation They can be used as fuels and as plastics
of electricity, but its fumes are also known for objects such as polythene bags. 143

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