The name carbon comes from the Latin word carbo for coal and charcoal. This also leads to the French charbon meaning charcoal. In German, Dutch and Danish, the names for carbon are Kohlenstoff, koolstof, and kulstof respectively. These all literally mean coal-substance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon,
October 30, 2012, 1:17 pm
November 1, 2012 1:07 pm
November 6, 2012 1:02 pm
Carbon has been known and used since ancient times. There are records of it in ancient recollections. However, it was not recognized as an element until much later. The name comes from the Latin word “carbo” which means, “Charcoal”. Carbon in its forms of charcoal, soot and coal has been used since prehistoric times. Carbon as diamond has also been known since ancient times. Soot, graphite, and diamonds are all forms of carbon. Harry Kroto discovered a fourth form, called buckminsterfullerene, a few years ago. The framework of C60 is close to what we see as a soccer ball with the pentagon shapes forming a spherical structure.
http://www.webelements.com/carbon/
November 1, 2012, 1:07 pm