A little learning is a dangerous thing
I bet that some of my readers will immediately think that my title is wrong and the saying is "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing". The original quote is
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
and drinking largely sobers us again.
Alexander Pope
I am writing this to gloat about my skills in literature but rather to point out a few common myths about carbon.
The facts are that Carbon is an element. A rather common element which we encounter its purest forms in either diamond or graphite. And then the myths will start.
Myth 1: A diamond is a lump of coal (or charcoal) that did well under pressure.
First, let us get the definition of charcoal correct. They are the residue of organic material heated in the absence of oxygen. The absence of oxygen and heat is a little difficult to achieve in a natural environment. Even if you did succeed in producing it, any pressure on charcoal will likely result in a pile of black dust. Ahh but the cleverer supporter of this myth will point out that coal is natural forming. Moreover, it is often found underground which means there is a chance that coal can be subjected to immense pressure. The story falls apart as coal and diamonds are usually not found in the same places (Logically diamond will be found at the bottom of all coal deposit). Secondly, most diamonds are dated to be formed before plants ever existed. (No plant means no raw material for coal.)
Myth 2: Graphite is similar to coal (or charcoal) and it can used as a fuel.
To most people, any black rock with a higher carbon content is assumed to be coal or charcoal or graphite and are easily interchangeable. While coal or charcoal can be used interchangeably by most people, graphite is a different kettle of fish. If you tried to burn graphite, you will find it extremely unreactive even though it is made of carbon. There is a reason why graphite powder is used as a fire retardant while coal dust is a fire hazard. I also believe this myth which was why I thought the Russians were insane to use graphite in their nuclear reactor control rods which led to Chernobyl incident. I am not going to say anything about Chernobyl except that the graphite control rods are not volatile fuel.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
and drinking largely sobers us again.
Alexander Pope
I am writing this to gloat about my skills in literature but rather to point out a few common myths about carbon.
The facts are that Carbon is an element. A rather common element which we encounter its purest forms in either diamond or graphite. And then the myths will start.
Myth 1: A diamond is a lump of coal (or charcoal) that did well under pressure.
First, let us get the definition of charcoal correct. They are the residue of organic material heated in the absence of oxygen. The absence of oxygen and heat is a little difficult to achieve in a natural environment. Even if you did succeed in producing it, any pressure on charcoal will likely result in a pile of black dust. Ahh but the cleverer supporter of this myth will point out that coal is natural forming. Moreover, it is often found underground which means there is a chance that coal can be subjected to immense pressure. The story falls apart as coal and diamonds are usually not found in the same places (Logically diamond will be found at the bottom of all coal deposit). Secondly, most diamonds are dated to be formed before plants ever existed. (No plant means no raw material for coal.)
Myth 2: Graphite is similar to coal (or charcoal) and it can used as a fuel.
To most people, any black rock with a higher carbon content is assumed to be coal or charcoal or graphite and are easily interchangeable. While coal or charcoal can be used interchangeably by most people, graphite is a different kettle of fish. If you tried to burn graphite, you will find it extremely unreactive even though it is made of carbon. There is a reason why graphite powder is used as a fire retardant while coal dust is a fire hazard. I also believe this myth which was why I thought the Russians were insane to use graphite in their nuclear reactor control rods which led to Chernobyl incident. I am not going to say anything about Chernobyl except that the graphite control rods are not volatile fuel.
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