Why Carbon is the King of Chemistry

What makes carbon the ultimate shape-shifter of the periodic table? This episode reveals why carbon is the backbone of life, the engine of industry, and the reason you exist.

From the diamonds in your jewelry to the fuel in your car, carbon’s versatility is unmatched. But what makes it so special? We dive into the element’s unique ability to form millions of molecules, its surprising role in everything from food to technology, and its dark side—pollution and climate change.

Why does carbon switch between coal, graphite, and diamonds? Can silicon replace it in life’s chemistry? And what happens if we run out of carbon-based fuels? This is the story of an element that quite literally holds the world together.

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