The name carbon comes from the Latin word “carbo” meaning coal, or charcoal. In French “charbon” means charcoal.

Carbon is the foundation of organic chemistry, and considered the basis of life on earth. It has the atomic number of 6. It has four electrons available for bonding. It has three isotopes: carbon 12, carbon 13, and carbon 14.
It is believed that Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the Universe by mass after hypdrogen, helium and oxygen. It’s considered abundant in the Sun, stars, comets, and the atmospheres of most planets.

It is the second most abundant element in the human body by mass after oxygen.

It’s electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p2, with four electrons in the valence shell. Due to it’s four missing electrons in it’s valence shell it can combine with many things. Some of things it likes to combine with is hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, nitrogen.

Carbon when combined with oxygen can be dissolved in water.