Atomic carbon

Atomic carbon

Names
IUPAC name Atomic carbon
Systematic IUPAC name Methanediylidene (substitutive) Carbon (additive)
Other names monocarbon; monatomic carbon; monoatomic carbon
Identifiers
CAS Number	7440-44-0 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:27594 Y
ChemSpider	4575370 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.028.321
PubChem CID	5462310
UNII	2P3VWU3H10 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID9027651
InChI InChI=1S/C Y Key: OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
SMILES [C]
Properties
Chemical formula	C
Molar mass	12.011 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

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Atomic carbon, systematically named carbon and λ⁰-methane, is a colourless gaseous inorganic chemical with the chemical formula C (also written [C]). It is kinetically unstable at ambient temperature and pressure, being removed through autopolymerisation.

Atomic carbon is the simplest of the allotropes of carbon, and is also the progenitor of carbon clusters. In addition, it may be considered to be the monomer of all (condensed) carbon allotropes like graphite and diamond.