Polytypes of diamond

The word carbon Is derived from the Latin carbo , which to the Romans meant charcoal (or ember). In the modern world, carbon is, of course, much more than charcoal. From carbon come the highest strength fibers, one of the best lubricants (graphite), the strongest crystal and hardest material (diamond), ein essentially non-ciystalline product (vitreous carbon), one of the best gas adsorbers (activated charcoal), and one of the best helium gas barriers (vitreous carbon). A great deal is yet to be learned and new forms of carbon are still being discovered such as the fullerene molecules and the hexagonal polytypes of diamond. 

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