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Step 3Pencil me in... for SCIENCE!
Yes, humble graphite. Once again we turn to our humble repository of all knowlege,:
The mineral graphite, as with diamond and fullerene, is one of the allotropes of carbon. It was named by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789 from the Greek (graphein): "to draw/write", for its use in pencils, where it is commonly called lead, as distinguished from the actual metallic element lead. Unlike diamond, graphite is an electrical conductor, a semimetal, and can be used, for instance, in the electrodes of an arc lamp. Graphite holds the distinction of being the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions. Therefore, it is used in thermochemistry as the standard state for defining the heat of formation of carbon compounds. Graphite may be considered the highest grade of coal, just above anthracite and alternatively called meta-anthracite, although it is not normally used as fuel because it is hard to ignite.
Note that in the description we have the three elements we were looking for. Its an electrical conductor, its hard to ignite and being a semi-metal, it has a usable amount of electrical resistance. In the form of lead refills for mechanical pencils, it has the advantage of being cheap.
So, how can we take the miracle of electrical resistance and the wonders of graphite and combine them into something magical and wondrous? You will see.. But first, on to the parts list..
The mineral graphite, as with diamond and fullerene, is one of the allotropes of carbon. It was named by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789 from the Greek (graphein): "to draw/write", for its use in pencils, where it is commonly called lead, as distinguished from the actual metallic element lead. Unlike diamond, graphite is an electrical conductor, a semimetal, and can be used, for instance, in the electrodes of an arc lamp. Graphite holds the distinction of being the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions. Therefore, it is used in thermochemistry as the standard state for defining the heat of formation of carbon compounds. Graphite may be considered the highest grade of coal, just above anthracite and alternatively called meta-anthracite, although it is not normally used as fuel because it is hard to ignite.
Note that in the description we have the three elements we were looking for. Its an electrical conductor, its hard to ignite and being a semi-metal, it has a usable amount of electrical resistance. In the form of lead refills for mechanical pencils, it has the advantage of being cheap.
So, how can we take the miracle of electrical resistance and the wonders of graphite and combine them into something magical and wondrous? You will see.. But first, on to the parts list..
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Jan 3, 2009. 7:04 AMcd41
says:
good thing you told me that was a pencil I use pens when i make Unobtainium
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Dec 18, 2009. 12:19 AMtiny hay
says:
I think you passed the test, If you don't know what this is, Go back now.
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