Why is carbon chemically inactive, but there are many carbon compounds in nature?

The chemical properties of elemental carbon are not active, but there are many applications.

Common elemental carbon can be divided into crystalline carbon and amorphous carbon. Crystalline carbon is usually called diamond, and amorphous carbon is graphite. These differences are caused by the differences in atomic arrangement. Everyone knows the value of diamonds, needless to say, but it is rare in nature. Let's talk about synthetic diamonds. Synthetic diamonds can usually be small but hard, so they can be used as cutting heads of cutting machines. The commonly used glass cutter is made of it. In addition, there are grinding wheels on the cutting machine. , has its participation. However, carbon nitride crystals also have high hardness and can also be used as cutting tools.

Amorphous carbon is mainly graphite, which is a unique layered structure and can be used as a lubricant with high temperature resistance. In addition, it is said that the brake pads on the plane also contain graphite, but it uses high temperature resistance instead of lubrication. Graphite is conductive and relatively inert, so it can be used as an electrode for batteries and the like. Graphite has adsorption function and can also be used as adsorbent to adsorb toxic and harmful substances. Gas masks contain graphite. Finally, it can be used for writing. Carbon ink and pencils are both graphite.

Finally, the latest research found that carbon has a special molecular mechanism similar to football, which consists of 60 carbon atoms and is called "fullerene" or "soccer ene".

This structure can be used to synthesize a new polymer material-carbon fiber, and its microstructure is a tubular structure composed of carbon atoms. The material has high strength and light weight, and it is a new material with good application prospect. Now some bicycle frames on the market are made of this material.