CARBON IS EVERYWHERE

1 PETROL

Carbon is useful because its atoms easily link together. They connect in many ways in crude oil, which is fossilised plant residue. We separate oil into different parts, one of which is the petrol we put into cars. Burning petrol in the engine releases energy to turn the car’s wheels.

2 PLASTIC

We take molecules from oil and link them together in new ways to make plastics. This makes long, strong chains of carbon atoms. Plastic is easy to shape, and it’s cheap, so we make many things out of it. However, plastic is hard to dispose of, which has become a problem.

3 STEEL

Mixing iron with carbon to produce steel can make a hard but relatively cheap metal alloy. It also reduces the chances of the metal produced rusting or breaking. Steel is used in many different industries, especially building and making cars.

4 MAKING DIAMONDS

Once, diamonds had to be dug up from underground. But scientists have found ways to make diamonds from hydrogen and methane, which comes from natural gas. At first these were tiny, hard, sharp diamonds that companies could use to make tools. But now they can make gems used in jewellery.