What happens when carbon is heated?

I don't claim to be an expert on chemistry but as you have had no replys so far here is the basics just to get the ball rolling.

Carbon has a valence of four
This means it forms four bonds naturly to add 4 electrons to its outer shell
To stabalise its strucure
Therfore carbon is not found as just carbon
But as carbon compounds, solids,liquids and gasses

For a solid such as graphite
At a few thousand degrees carbon will melt
(bonds vibrate and atoms move around slightly)
A few thousand more it will boil
(bonds break and atoms move freely)

It really depends on the compound

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mark Coeman

i dont claim to be an expert on chemistry but as you have had no replys so far here is the basics just to get the ball rolling.

carbon has a valence of four
this means it forms four bonds naturly to add 4 electrons to its outer shell
to stabalise its strucure
therfore carbon is not found as just carbon
but as carbon compounds, solids,liquids and gasses

for a solid such as graphite
at a few thousand degrees carbon will melt
(bonds vibrate and atoms move around slightly)
a few thousand more it will boil
(bonds break and atoms move freely)

it really depends on the compound

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Hi Mark. Graphite IS just carbon, and so is diamond. "solids, liquids and gasses" have nothing to do with whether the element is pure or not. You should basically describe it as compound or elemental. Carbon does exist in an elemental form, in lattices with itself.

Graphite is in hexagonal lattice sheets, and diamond is a tetrahedral structure.

Now that's cleared up..

When you heat carbon, it begins to react with the oxygen in the air. If there is a lot of oxygen in the air, it will form Carbon Dioxide, CO2.
If there is less carbon in the air, then it will form carbon monoxide, CO.

I think this is what you are looking for :)

Thanks for the information

Normally it charss
Turn dark or black
Gives a sweet burning smell
Disappears if burnt more...
Well you should have specified the type of carbon