“A villain is just a victim whose story hasn't been told” – Chris Colfer

Carbon Carbon Carbon!!!

The moment you hear carbon, the mind creates a puff of darkness on its canvas, a grey smokey layer just spreading over all the underlying thoughts. Images of polluting industries and thick smoke make their way into our vision, and we scamper to get ourselves away. And, with this picture of worsening shades of grey is associated carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide, the most notorious of chemicals, over the past century, has emerged as the major villain that the world is fighting against and this stands as a clear example of how precision propaganda works.

Clearly, carbon dioxide has one of carbon and two of oxygen, and yet oxygen enjoys the status of being the hero of our lives, while carbon is portrayed as the bad guy. Even among the lesser famous but significant polluters, methane has one carbon and four hydrogens, and while hydrogen has taken the energy sector by storm as the next superhero, carbon still holds the image of a supervillain. With the term ‘de-carbonization’ being coined, it surely seems that the PR team of Carbon has been incompetent and an abject failure, and has a long way to go to have anyone openly advocate for their client.

As an attempt to undo this decades of tarnishing and defamation, this piece looks to bring out the true stature of Carbon as that of nobility and godliness. To ensure adherence to the top-down sequence of reverence, we shall first delve into the godliness of our intended protagonist and then bring out the nobility.

The One

Life, undoubtedly the most abstract and yet crucial and consequential concept in the universe and in all of its forms, as we know them today, is the set of all organisms made from organic material which is primarily defined by chemistry ( and majorly divided thereof) by the presence of carbon and its chains. While organic chemistry has given many a nightmare to the students of science, it would be unfair to not give it the credit it deserves. Carbon may thus be singled out as the most essential ingredient- the one- that makes life possible.

The Three

Considering Carbon’s absolute necessity in creating life, it may well be awarded the stature of the creator. The one who had to exist before any other life form could.

Furthermore, may it be based on its role in the food chain(cycle), the balancing cycle between respiration and photosynthesis, carbon also stakes claim as being the most essential element to sustain life on earth. The perfect balance of these natural phenomenon has been the key to the continued existence of life forms on the planet for millions of years. Over the past decade, with huge imbalance caused by excess pollution and, as already pointed out, negative publicity, the absolute necessity of carbon seems to have been systematically ignored. In the court of the humanity, carbon stands to trial. And yet, every objection against the demonification of carbon would have to be sustained, else, no life form would be (sustained, that is).

But, neither can one deny the degradation of air, the impact on health and life, caused by the large scale emission of carbon dioxide, CFCs and so on has caused. Over the last century, the astronomical increase in pollutants in the air has led to a direct impact on all life forms. Thus, if the balance of carbon is disturbed and unchecked, the destruction of life is inescapable. Even if carbon is perceived as the Devil in this regard, we must not forget that Lucifer is indeed an angel, charged with punishing the guilty, and not actually evil himself.

The trinity – the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer.

The Six

While Carbon’s perception as the One or the Trinity speaks to its divinity, further down the pyramid, the relation of carbon to the number six is what brings out its nobility. Though, one does find divine references to the number six. While these references are embedded in the divine, they are, arguably, indicative of the guiding principles for humanity. While the Star of David symbolized relationship between God and seven virtues, the six days God took to make the world also shows the inception of humanity based on the six pillars. The six articles of faith in Islam, could be argued, act as lessons to the followers or guiding principles for a fulfilled life. Thus, six stands as the key of humanity finding its highest form, nobility.

Ignoring the evolved and deluded, through rigorous propaganda to push nepotism, notion of nobility, true nobility as it originally came to be was based on the qualities that would be considered morally good and noble. Selflessness, loyalty, versatility and display of strength under pressure would definitely constitute the list of qualities, if ever a formal list was made.

Before diving into the chemistry of it, a simple run through the physical forms of carbon is proof enough of its versatility. Diamonds and graphite. Under pressure, carbon finds its strength in the form of diamond, a highly valued commodity in human luxuries, owing to its rarity and longevity. It is preferred not to attribute loyalty to carbon on the basis of diamonds being a girl’s best friend, which is just another example of genius advertising. On one hand is the high value diamond form and on the other graphite, abundant and cheap, forming a major part of human communications. Graphite, leaving its mark in the foundations of human knowledge and learning, through its softness.

Covalent bonds, the structural basis of life forms, is the form of bond that carbon atoms form, where there is no give and take, just sharing (of electrons) to find stability. If ever there was a way in which nature taught humans the importance of co-existence and selflessness, this would be it. The very basis of life is this form of bond. A relationship where both are equal, and both find strength.

And while covalent bonds exemplify kinship, the ability of these long carbon chains to attach with any other atom or group of atoms to create the plethora of organic compounds stakes claim as the originator of inclusivity. The notorious heavy metals, complicated groups like ammonia and derivatives, and even alcoholic groups, all are extended the option to join the carbon chains, to find stability and somewhere to belong.

It is evident that carbon is the noblest of all. It gives a run for money to all elements that are today termed as noble gases/elements. While an indisputable case can be made to rename these elements as prude or shy or saintly gases who do not react, the nobility of selflessness, inclusiveness and adaptability is found in the misunderstood villain.

Redefining

We owe carbon an apology, but more so a re-branding of sorts. A new way to look at it as the cause, creator and protector of life. Carbon continues to be unappreciated hero, that we need, and whether we deserve such a hero is arguable. It continues taking all the blame and hatred, cause it can take it, it can be what the world and nature wants it to be.

Nature’s dark knight.

Author

Karn Kedar

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