Step 1 : Introduction to the question "Diamonds, graphite and charcoal are all forms of which element?"
Take a look at that gorgeous rock on your finger and then look at the lead tip at the end of a pencil. Believe it or not they are both formed from the same basic element, carbon. The difference is that the atoms in diamonds are more tightly packed together. Under just the right conditions carbon atoms can eventually turn into a diamond. And the next time your family goes to a barbecue you'll now know that the main ingredient of the charcoal is also carbon. Carbon forms a vast number of compounds, more than any other element. For this reason, carbon has often been referred to as the "king of the elements".
