Carbon

Last updated: June 27, 2022

Carbon is an elementary substance of main group element with formula C.

Table of contents

Names

List of substance names

Nomenclature

Name

Typical name: Carbon

Compositional nomenclature: Carbon

Other names: Graphite; Diamond; Black lead

Formulae and structures

List of formulae

Formula name

Formula

Typical formula: C

Compositional formula: C

Structural formula: Structure of α-graphite; Structure of diamond

Properties

List of substance properties

Item

Value

Name: Carbon

Formula: C

Appearance: Black solid

Odor: Odorless

Molar mass: 12.011 g/mol

Density: 3.513 g/cm³^[1][2]
Solid, Diamond; 2.267 g/cm³^[1]
Solid, Graphite; 2.2 g/cm³^[2]
Solid, Graphite

Melting point: 3500 °C^[1]
Diamond (63.5 atm); 4440 °C^[2]
Diamond (12.4GPa); 4489 °C^[2]
Graphite (Triple point, 10.3 MPa)

Boiling point: 3930 °C^[1]
Diamond

Subliming point: 3915–4020 °C^[1]
Graphite; 3825 °C^[2]
Graphite

Constituents

Constituent atoms

Atom	Name	Oxidation state	Number
C	Carbon	0	1

Ratio of atoms

Atom	Atomic weight	Number	Atomic ratio	Weight ratio
C	12.011	1	100.00%	100.00%

Thermodynamic properties

Phase transition properties

Item

Value

Enthalpy of fusion: 117 kJ · mol⁻¹^[1]
Graphite, at 3500°C; 117.4 kJ · mol⁻¹^[2]
Graphite, Triple point, at 4489°C

Enthalpy of vaporization: –

Enthalpy of vaporization at 25°C: –

Enthalpy of other transition: –

Standard thermodynamic properties

State	Standard enthalpy of formation Δ_fH° kJ · mol⁻¹	Standard Gibbs energy of formation Δ_fG° kJ · mol⁻¹	Standard molar entropy S° J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹	Standard molar heat capacity at constant pressure C_p° J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹
Crystalline solid graphite	0^[3]	0^[3]	5.740^[3]	8.527^[3]
Crystalline solid diamond	1.895^[3]	2.900^[3]	2.377^[3]	6.113^[3]
Gas	716.682^[3]	671.257^[3]	158.096^[3]	20.838^[3]

Solubility

Qualitative solubility

Reactive

Miscible

Very soluble

Soluble

Slightly soluble

Very slightly soluble

Insoluble: H₂O^[1]Water
C₂H₅OH^[1]Ethanol

Hazards

GHS label^[4]

Item

Value

Hazard pictograms: GHS02: Flame; GHS08: Health hazard

Signal word: Danger

Hazard statements: H251: Self heating may catch fire; H252: Self heating in large quantities may catch fire; H351: Suspected of causing cancer; H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure; H372: Causes damage to respiratory system through prolonged or repeated exposure

Physical hazards^[4]

Classification	Category	Label	Hazard statement
Explosives	Not applicable
Flammable gases	Not applicable
Aerosols	Not applicable
Oxidizing gases	Not applicable
Gases under pressure	Not applicable
Flammable liquids	Not applicable
Flammable solids	Classification not possible
Self reactive substances and mixtures	Not applicable
Pyrophoric liquids	Not applicable
Pyrophoric solids	Not classified
Self heating substances and mixtures	Category 1	Danger	H251: Self heating may catch fire
	Category 2	Warning	H252: Self heating in large quantities may catch fire
	Classification not possible
Substances and mixtures which in contact with water emit flammable gases	Not applicable
Oxidizing liquids	Not applicable
Oxidizing solids	Not applicable
Organic peroxides	Not applicable
Substances and mixtures corrosive to metals	Classification not possible
Desensitized explosives	No data

Health hazards^[4]

Classification	Category	Label	Hazard statement
Acute oral toxicity	Not classified
Acute dermal toxicity	Classification not possible
Acute inhalation toxicity by gas	Not applicable
Acute inhalation toxicity by vapor	Not applicable
Acute inhalation toxicity by dust or mist	Classification not possible
Skin corrosion irritation	Not classified
Serious eye damage eye irritation	Not classified
Respiratory sensitization	Classification not possible
Skin sensitization	Classification not possible
Germ cell mutagenicity	Classification not possible
Carcinogenicity	Category 2	Warning	H351: Suspected of causing cancer
Reproductive toxicity	Classification not possible
Specific target organ toxicity single exposure	Classification not possible
Specific target organ toxicity repeated exposure	Category 1 (Respiratory system)	Danger	H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure H372: Causes damage to respiratory system through prolonged or repeated exposure
Aspiration hazard	Classification not possible

Environmental hazards^[4]

Classification	Category	Label	Hazard statement
Hazardous to the aquatic environment short term	Not classified
Hazardous to the aquatic environment long term	Classification not possible
Hazardous to the ozone layer	Classification not possible

Preparations

Incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon

Incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon can yield carbon.

Incomplete combustion of methane ◆ Δ_rG −423.54 kJ/mol K 1.59 × 10⁷⁴ pK −74.20: CH₄Methane + O₂Oxygen
⟶
CCarbon + 2H₂OWater

Incomplete combustion of ethylene ◆ Δ_rG −542.41 kJ/mol K 1.06 × 10⁹⁵ pK −95.03: C₂H₄Ethylene + O₂Oxygen
⟶
2CCarbon + 2H₂OWater

Incomplete combustion of propane ◆ Δ_rG −925.1 kJ/mol K 1.18 × 10¹⁶² pK −162.07: C₃H₈Propane + 2O₂Oxygen
⟶
3CCarbon + 4H₂OWater

Incomplete combustion of 1-Butene ◆ Δ_rG −1019.8 kJ/mol K 4.58 × 10¹⁷⁸ pK −178.66: C₄H₈1-Butene + 2O₂Oxygen
⟶
4CCarbon + 4H₂OWater

Incomplete combustion of ethane ◆ Δ_rG −1357.13 kJ/mol K 5.74 × 10²³⁷ pK −237.76: 2C₂H₆Ethane + 3O₂Oxygen
⟶
4CCarbon + 6H₂OWater

Electrolysis

Electrolysis of liquid can yield carbon.

Electrolysis of acetic acid ◆ Δ_rG −84.4 kJ/mol K 6.11 × 10¹⁴ pK −14.79: CH₃COOHAcetic acid
⚡
⟶
2H₂OWater + 2CCarbon

Electrolysis of acetic acid ◆ Δ_rG −4.5 kJ/mol K 6.14 × 10⁰ pK −0.79: CH₃COOHAcetic acid
⚡
⟶
CO₂↑Carbon dioxide + CCarbon + 2H₂↑Hydrogen

Electrolysis of hydrogen cyanide ◆ Δ_rG −249.94 kJ/mol K 6.13 × 10⁴³ pK −43.79: 2HCNHydrogen cyanide
⚡
⟶
N₂↑Nitrogen + 2CCarbon + H₂↑Hydrogen

Electrolysis of acetic acid ◆ Δ_rG 1343.9 kJ/mol K 0.36 × 10⁻²³⁵ pK 235.44: 3CH₃COOHAcetic acid
⚡
⟶
3CCarbon + 3CH₄↑Methane + 2O₃↑Ozone

Electrolysis of acetic acid ◆ Δ_rG 1496.1 kJ/mol K 0.78 × 10⁻²⁶² pK 262.11: 3CH₃COOHAcetic acid
⚡
⟶
6CCarbon + 6H₂↑Hydrogen + 2O₃↑Ozone

Decomposition

Decomposition of thermally decomposable substance can yield carbon.

Decomposition of ammonium cyanide ◆ Δ_rG 35.1 kJ/mol K 0.71 × 10⁻⁶ pK 6.15: NH₄CNAmmonium cyanide
🔥
⟶
N₂H₄Hydrazine + CCarbon

Decomposition of acetic acid ◆ Δ_rG −84.4 kJ/mol K 6.11 × 10¹⁴ pK −14.79: CH₃COOHAcetic acid
🔥
⟶
2H₂OWater + 2CCarbon

Decomposition of acetic acid ◆ Δ_rG −4.5 kJ/mol K 6.14 × 10⁰ pK −0.79: CH₃COOHAcetic acid
🔥
⟶
CO₂↑Carbon dioxide + CCarbon + 2H₂↑Hydrogen

Comproportionation

The reaction of sodium acetate can yield carbon.

Decomposition of sodium acetate ◆ Δ_rG −9.44 kJ/mol K 4.51 × 10¹ pK −1.65: CH₃COONaSodium acetate
🔥
⟶
NaOHSodium hydroxide + H₂OWater + 2CCarbon

Decomposition of potassium acetate ◆ Δ_rG −25.05 kJ/mol K 2.45 × 10⁴ pK −4.39: CH₃COOKPotassium acetate
🔥
⟶
KOHPotassium hydroxide + H₂OWater + 2CCarbon

Decomposition of rubidium acetate ◆ Δ_rG −25.05 kJ/mol K 2.45 × 10⁴ pK −4.39: CH₃COORbRubidium acetate
🔥
⟶
RbOHRubidium hydroxide + H₂OWater + 2CCarbon

Decomposition of lithium acetate: CH₃COOLiLithium acetate
🔥
⟶
LiOHLithium hydroxide + H₂OWater + 2CCarbon

Decomposition of magnesium acetate: Mg(CH₃COO)₂Magnesium acetate
🔥
⟶
Mg(OH)₂Magnesium hydroxide + CH₃COOHAcetic acid + 2CCarbon

Chemical reactions

Reaction with nonmetal

The reaction of carbon and nonmetal yields binary compound of carbon.

Reaction of carbon and oxygen ◆ Δ_rG −394.359 kJ/mol K 1.23 × 10⁶⁹ pK −69.09: CCarbon + O₂Oxygen
⟶
CO₂Carbon dioxide

Reaction of carbon and oxygen ◆ Δ_rG −274.336 kJ/mol K 1.15 × 10⁴⁸ pK −48.06: 2CCarbon + O₂Oxygen
⟶
2COCarbon monoxide

Reaction of hydrogen and carbon ◆ Δ_rG −50.72 kJ/mol K 7.69 × 10⁸ pK −8.89: 2H₂Hydrogen + CCarbon
⟶
CH₄Methane

Reaction of carbon and ozone ◆ Δ_rG −1509.5 kJ/mol K 2.84 × 10²⁶⁴ pK −264.45: 3CCarbon + 2O₃Ozone
⟶
3CO₂Carbon dioxide

Reaction of carbon and ozone ◆ Δ_rG −574.7 kJ/mol K 4.82 × 10¹⁰⁰ pK −100.68: 3CCarbon + O₃Ozone
⟶
3COCarbon monoxide

Reaction with oxide

The reaction of carbon and oxide yields elementary substance/oxide and nonmetal oxide.

Reaction of carbon and carbon dioxide ◆ Δ_rG 120.023 kJ/mol K 0.94 × 10⁻²¹ pK 21.03: CCarbon + CO₂Carbon dioxide
🔥
⟶
2COCarbon monoxide

Reaction of carbon and water ◆ Δ_rG 79.899 kJ/mol K 0.10 × 10⁻¹³ pK 14.00: CCarbon + 2H₂OWater
🔥
⟶
CO₂↑Carbon dioxide + 2H₂↑Hydrogen

Reaction of carbon and water ◆ Δ_rG 99.961 kJ/mol K 0.31 × 10⁻¹⁷ pK 17.51: CCarbon + H₂OWater
🔥
⟶
CO↑Carbon monoxide + H₂↑Hydrogen

Reaction of carbon and sodium oxide ◆ Δ_rG 238.29 kJ/mol K 0.18 × 10⁻⁴¹ pK 41.75: CCarbon + Na₂OSodium oxide
🔥
⟶
2NaSodium + CO↑Carbon monoxide

Reaction of carbon and sodium peroxide ◆ Δ_rG 173.4 kJ/mol K 0.42 × 10⁻³⁰ pK 30.38: 2CCarbon + Na₂O₂Sodium peroxide
🔥
⟶
2NaSodium + 2CO↑Carbon monoxide

Reaction with water

The reaction of carbon and water yields acetic acid.

Reaction of carbon and water ◆ Δ_rG 84.4 kJ/mol K 0.16 × 10⁻¹⁴ pK 14.79: 2CCarbon + 2H₂OWater
🔥
⟶
CH₃COOHAcetic acid

Reaction with acid

The reaction of carbon and acid yields a variety of products.

Reaction of carbon and metasilicic acid ◆ Δ_rG 81.6 kJ/mol K 0.51 × 10⁻¹⁴ pK 14.30: 2CCarbon + 2H₂SiO₃Metasilicic acid
🔥
⟶
2SiO₂Silicon dioxide + CH₃COOHAcetic acid

Reaction of carbon and sulfuric acid ◆ Δ_rG 242.6 kJ/mol K 0.32 × 10⁻⁴² pK 42.50: 2CCarbon + 2H₂SO₄Sulfuric acid
🔥
⟶
2SO₃Sulfur trioxide + CH₃COOHAcetic acid

Reaction of carbon and chromic acid: 2CCarbon + 2H₂CrO₄Chromic acid
⟶
2CrO₃Chromium(VI) oxide + CH₃COOHAcetic acid

Reaction of carbon and selenous acid: 2CCarbon + 2H₂SeO₃Selenous acid
⟶
2SeO₂Selenium dioxide + CH₃COOHAcetic acid

Reaction of carbon and carbonic acid ◆ Δ_rG 60.98 kJ/mol K 0.21 × 10⁻¹⁰ pK 10.68: 2CCarbon + 2H₂CO₃Carbonic acid
🔥
⟶
CH₃COOHAcetic acid + 2CO₂↑Carbon dioxide

Reaction with base

The reaction of carbon and base yields a variety of products.

Reaction of carbon and sodium hydroxide ◆ Δ_rG 155.84 kJ/mol K 0.50 × 10⁻²⁷ pK 27.30: 2CCarbon + 3NaOHSodium hydroxide
🔥
⟶
CH₃COONaSodium acetate + Na₂OSodium oxide

Reaction of carbon and potassium hydroxide ◆ Δ_rG 346.8 kJ/mol K 0.18 × 10⁻⁶⁰ pK 60.76: 2CCarbon + 3KOHPotassium hydroxide
🔥
⟶
CH₃COOKPotassium acetate + K₂OPotassium oxide

Reaction of carbon and rubidium hydroxide: 2CCarbon + 3RbOHRubidium hydroxide
⟶
CH₃COORbRubidium acetate + Rb₂ORubidium oxide

Reaction of carbon and lithium hydroxide: 2CCarbon + 3LiOHLithium hydroxide
⟶
CH₃COOLiLithium acetate + Li₂OLithium oxide

Reaction of carbon and magnesium hydroxide: 4CCarbon + 3Mg(OH)₂Magnesium hydroxide
⟶
Mg(CH₃COO)₂Magnesium acetate + 2MgOMagnesium oxide

Reaction with base and water

The reaction of carbon, base, and water yields a variety of products.

Reaction of carbon, ammonia, and water ◆ Δ_rG 52.15 kJ/mol K 0.73 × 10⁻⁹ pK 9.14: 2CCarbon + NH₃Ammonia + 2H₂OWater
🔥
⟶
CH₃COONH₄Ammonium acetate

Reaction of carbon, sodium hydroxide, and water ◆ Δ_rG 9.44 kJ/mol K 0.22 × 10⁻¹ pK 1.65: 2CCarbon + NaOHSodium hydroxide + H₂OWater
🔥
⟶
CH₃COONaSodium acetate

Reaction of carbon, magnesium hydroxide, and water: 4CCarbon + Mg(OH)₂Magnesium hydroxide + 2H₂OWater
⟶
Mg(CH₃COO)₂Magnesium acetate

Reaction of carbon, potassium hydroxide, and water ◆ Δ_rG 25.05 kJ/mol K 0.41 × 10⁻⁴ pK 4.39: 2CCarbon + KOHPotassium hydroxide + H₂OWater
🔥
⟶
CH₃COOKPotassium acetate

Reaction of carbon, calcium hydroxide, and water ◆ Δ_rG 80.56 kJ/mol K 0.77 × 10⁻¹⁴ pK 14.11: 4CCarbon + Ca(OH)₂Calcium hydroxide + 2H₂OWater
🔥
⟶
Ca(CH₃COO)₂Calcium acetate

Reaction with oxidizing species

The reaction of carbon and oxidizing species yields a variety of products.

Reaction of carbon and dichlorine monoxide ◆ Δ_rG −590.2 kJ/mol K 2.50 × 10¹⁰³ pK −103.40: CCarbon + 2Cl₂ODichlorine monoxide
🔥
⟶
2Cl₂Chlorine + CO₂Carbon dioxide

Reaction of carbon and dichlorine monoxide ◆ Δ_rG −235.1 kJ/mol K 1.54 × 10⁴¹ pK −41.19: CCarbon + Cl₂ODichlorine monoxide
🔥
⟶
Cl₂Chlorine + COCarbon monoxide

Reaction of carbon and chromium(VI) oxide: 3CCarbon + 2CrO₃Chromium(VI) oxide
🔥
⟶
2CrChromium + 3CO₂↑Carbon dioxide

Reaction of carbon and chromium(VI) oxide: 3CCarbon + CrO₃Chromium(VI) oxide
🔥
⟶
CrChromium + 3CO↑Carbon monoxide

Reaction of carbon and manganese(III) oxide ◆ Δ_rG 469.6 kJ/mol K 0.54 × 10⁻⁸² pK 82.27: 3CCarbon + Mn₂O₃Manganese(III) oxide
🔥
⟶
2MnManganese + 3CO↑Carbon monoxide

Reaction with reducible species

The reaction of carbon and reducible species yields a variety of products.

Reaction of carbon and silicon dioxide ◆ Δ_rG 462.28 kJ/mol K 0.10 × 10⁻⁸⁰ pK 80.99: CCarbon + SiO₂Silicon dioxide
🔥
⟶
SiSilicon + CO₂↑Carbon dioxide

Reaction of carbon and silicon dioxide ◆ Δ_rG 582.30 kJ/mol K 0.97 × 10⁻¹⁰² pK 102.01: 2CCarbon + SiO₂Silicon dioxide
🔥
⟶
SiSilicon + 2CO↑Carbon monoxide

Reaction of carbon and tetraphosphorus decaoxide ◆ Δ_rG 725.9 kJ/mol K 0.67 × 10⁻¹²⁷ pK 127.17: 5CCarbon + P₄O₁₀Tetraphosphorus decaoxide
🔥
⟶
4PPhosphorus + 5CO₂↑Carbon dioxide

Reaction of carbon and tetraphosphorus decaoxide ◆ Δ_rG 1326.0 kJ/mol K 0.50 × 10⁻²³² pK 232.31: 10CCarbon + P₄O₁₀Tetraphosphorus decaoxide
🔥
⟶
4PPhosphorus + 10CO↑Carbon monoxide

Reaction of carbon and sulfur dioxide ◆ Δ_rG −94.165 kJ/mol K 3.14 × 10¹⁶ pK −16.50: CCarbon + SO₂Sulfur dioxide
🔥
⟶
SSulfur + CO₂Carbon dioxide

Reaction with hardly reducible species

The reaction of carbon and hardly reducible species yields a variety of products.

Reaction of carbon and magnesium oxide ◆ Δ_rG 428.78 kJ/mol K 0.76 × 10⁻⁷⁵ pK 75.12: CCarbon + MgOMagnesium oxide
🔥
⟶
MgMagnesium + CO↑Carbon monoxide

Reaction of carbon and aluminium oxide ◆ Δ_rG 1170.8 kJ/mol K 0.77 × 10⁻²⁰⁵ pK 205.12: 3CCarbon + Al₂O₃Aluminium oxide
🔥
⟶
2AlAluminium + 3CO↑Carbon monoxide

Reaction of carbon and potassium oxide ◆ Δ_rG 184.9 kJ/mol K 0.40 × 10⁻³² pK 32.39: CCarbon + K₂OPotassium oxide
🔥
⟶
2KPotassium + CO↑Carbon monoxide

Reaction of carbon and calcium oxide ◆ Δ_rG 466.86 kJ/mol K 0.16 × 10⁻⁸¹ pK 81.79: CCarbon + CaOCalcium oxide
🔥
⟶
CaCalcium + CO↑Carbon monoxide

Reaction of carbon and manganese(II) oxide ◆ Δ_rG 225.73 kJ/mol K 0.28 × 10⁻³⁹ pK 39.55: CCarbon + MnOManganese(II) oxide
🔥
⟶
MnManganese + CO↑Carbon monoxide

References

List of references

1
James G. Speight (2017)
Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, 17th edition
https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9781259586095
McGraw Hill Education
- Amazon
Citation list
- ^ Density, 3.513 g/cm³ - p.38
- ^ Density, 2.267 g/cm³ - p.38
- ^ Melting point, 3500 °C - p.38
- ^ Boiling point, 3930 °C - p.38
- ^ Subliming point, 3915–4020 °C - p.38
- ^ Enthalpy of fusion, 117 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.299
- ^ Qualitative solubility, Insoluble in water - p.38
- ^ Qualitative solubility, Insoluble in ethanol - p.38
2
John R. Rumble Jr, David R. Lide, Thomas J. Bruno (2019)
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 100th Edition
https://www.routledge.com/CRC-Handbook-of-Chemistry-and-Physics/book-series/CRCHANCHEPHY
CRC Press
- Amazon
Citation list
- ^ Density, 3.513 g/cm³ - p.4-43
- ^ Density, 2.2 g/cm³ - p.4-43
- ^ Melting point, 4440 °C - p.4-43
- ^ Melting point, 4489 °C - p.4-43
- ^ Subliming point, 3825 °C - p.4-43
- ^ Enthalpy of fusion, 117.4 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.6-155
3
Janiel J. Reed (1989)
The NBS Tables of Chemical Thermodynamic Properties: Selected Values for Inorganic and C1 and C2 Organic Substances in SI Units
https://doi.org/10.18434/M32124
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Citation list
4
Chemical Management Center
GHS Classification Results
https://www.nite.go.jp/chem/english/ghs/all_fy_e.html
National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
Citation list

Δ_rG	−423.54 kJ/mol
K	1.59 × 10⁷⁴
pK	−74.20

Δ_rG	−542.41 kJ/mol
K	1.06 × 10⁹⁵
pK	−95.03

Δ_rG	−925.1 kJ/mol
K	1.18 × 10¹⁶²
pK	−162.07

Δ_rG	−1019.8 kJ/mol
K	4.58 × 10¹⁷⁸
pK	−178.66

Carbon

Names

List of substance names

Formulae and structures

List of formulae

Properties

List of substance properties

Constituents

Constituent atoms

Ratio of atoms

Thermodynamic properties

Phase transition properties

Standard thermodynamic properties

Solubility

Qualitative solubility

Hazards

GHS label[4]

Physical hazards[4]

Health hazards[4]

Environmental hazards[4]

Preparations

Incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon

Electrolysis

Decomposition

Comproportionation

Chemical reactions

Reaction with nonmetal

Reaction with oxide

Reaction with water

Reaction with acid

Reaction with base

Reaction with base and water

Reaction with oxidizing species

Reaction with reducible species

Reaction with hardly reducible species

References

List of references

Related substances

Elementary substances of group 14 element

Carbon compounds

Related categories

GHS label^[4]

Physical hazards^[4]

Health hazards^[4]

Environmental hazards^[4]