MadSci Network: Chemistry |
Carbon is actually a non-metal however it's position in the periodic table causes it to weakly exhibit some properties generally associated with metals. The most important of these being weak electrical conductivity (carbon is a semi-conductor in some forms). Elemental carbon does not exhibit many of the other characteristics such as elasticity, malleability, conductivity (of both electricity and heat) and luster which are generally associated with metals. Carbon is also famous for its chemical behavior in forming a vast array of organic compounds which by their definition are non-metal derived. These types of chemical behavior are so abundant for this element that there is little doubt of its identity as a non-metal.
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