Carbon
Carbono (C, Z=6)
- Date
- c. 3750 BCE · confidence low
- Place
- The Near East (charcoal and soot)
- Credited to
- Unknown (prehistory)
- Field
- Matter & energy
What was discovered
Known as charcoal and soot since prehistory; Lavoisier showed in 1772-1789 that diamond and coal are the same elemental substance.
Recognised as an element by Lavoisier; the date is a symbolic value for prehistoric use.
What it led to
- Iron and steel metallurgy using carbon
- Organic chemistry as the science of carbon
- Carbon materials: graphite, fibre, graphene
Built on
- Control of fire
- Reduction of ores with charcoal
Made possible
- Graphene2004
- Steel