carbon

boron$\longleftarrow$ 6 $\longrightarrow$nitrogen

Pronunciation

• (US) enPR: kärʹbən, IPA ^(key): /ˈkɑrbən/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈkɑːbən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: car‧bon

Noun

Singular carbon

Plural carbons

Carbon's place on the periodic table

The electron shell diagram for carbon

1. (uncountable) The chemical element (symbol C) with an atomic number of 6.
2. (countable); (informal) A piece of carbon paper.

   Make sure the carbon is facing the second sheet of paper, before rolling it into the typewriter.

3. (countable); (informal) A carbon copy.
4. A fossil fuel that is made of impure carbon, such as coal or charcoal.
5. (uncountable); (ecology) Carbon dioxide, when talking about global warming and climate change.

   Carbon dioxide makes up less than 1% of the atmosphere.