carbon

carbon apears in many forms and, like oxygen, it is a very important element

carbon dioxide is needed to plants to make sugars

the energy which is stored in plants by this process is the basis of all forms of life

there are more carbon compounds than all other chemical compounds together

this is because carbon atoms have special properties they can connect to each othrr in rings and long chains to form very large molecules they can also compine with most other elements

wood, wool, rubber, oil, soap, alcohol and plastics are all examples of carbon compounds in everyday use

carbon chemistry is usually called organic chemistry- the chemistry of life