 This is diamond, one of the hardest substances on earth. It's hard and pricey and this is graphite, used in pencils. It's soft and cheap, but they are both completely made of carbon, just carbon. Then why do they vary so much? Because carbon is the most versatile, the most unique element in the universe. It is the only element that has the ability to form billions of different compounds. From the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the air we breathe, you will find carbon everywhere and it forms the backbone of life on earth. But wait a second, why carbon and what makes it so special? That's what we will learn in this chapter. We will understand the kind of bonds that carbon forms and we will get a glimpse of all the amazing molecules it can create. I hope you are excited, let's start.