About 1 million compounds known to us contain carbon than all the other elements combined. Carbon is found in abundance in the sun, stars and comets. Carbon dioxide is an important part of the atmosphere. Plants, using photosynthesis, convert carbon dioxide into organic carbon compounds which in turn are consumed by other organisms. This is known as the carbon cycle.
Amorphous carbon is found in charcoal, coal, coke, carbon black and lampblack.
Lampblack is made by burning liquid hydrocarbons, such as kerosene. For a long time, blacklamp was used as a black pigment in inks and paints. It has been replaced by carbon black, made from finer particles. Carbon black is used as a filler and reinforcing agent for rubber. Bayer Corporation is a research-based company with major businesses in health care and life sciences, and chemicals.