Carbonates: Where Carbon Goes to Sleep
Imagine this: a whopping 100 quadrillion (that's 10^15) tons of Earth's carbon decided to throw a party and turned up as carbonate, a snazzy little formation featuring one carbon and three oxygen atoms in a flat, planar cluster. It's like carbon went, "Why hang out with four atoms when I can have a blast with just three?" And voilĂ , carbonate was born, striking a pose much like graphite.
But wait, there's more! You're already familiar with some of carbonate's alter egos: Limestone, dolomite, marble, and even baking soda. Yep, when it comes to carbon's favorite Earthly disguises, carbonate is the life of the party. And let's not forget concrete—without limestone, there'd be no concrete jungles to admire. So, next time you're marveling at a concrete masterpiece, just remember: CO3 is the real star of the show.
