The History of Carbon II. Occurrences in Nature A. Diamond B. Graphite C. Coal and Charcoal D. Amorphous Carbon III. Carbon Compounds A. Inorganic B. Organic IV. The Carbon Cycle IV. Conclusion Carbon, an element discovered before history itself, is one of the most abundant elements in the universe. It can be found in the sun, the stars, comets, and the atmospheres of most planets. There are close to ten million known carbon compounds, many thousands of which are vital to the basis of life itself (WWW 1). Carbon occurs in many forms in nature. One of its purest forms is diamond. Diamond is the hardest substance known on earth. Altho