Question

What is the metallic character of carbon?

Answer 1

Hint: Carbon is a chemical element with atomic number $$6$$ and can exist mostly as non-metallic. When carbon involves molecules that are combined with oxygen. Carbon exists as a metal and the compound graphite which is an allotrope of carbon can conduct electricity and exists as a metal.

Complete answer:
Chemical elements are divided into metals, non-metals, and metalloids. Metals can easily lose electrons and nonmetals try to gain electrons. Whereas metalloid or a semimetal can act as both metal and non-metal.
Carbon is a chemical element with atomic number $$6$$ . It can exist mostly as non-metal. But in some compounds that are involved in the bonding with oxygen, carbon exists as metal.
Carbon can exist in different forms and is known as allotropes. Different allotropic forms of carbon are diamond, graphite and Buckminsterfullerene. Graphite is one of the allotropic forms of carbon which can conduct electricity.
Metals can conduct electricity whereas non-metals do not conduct electricity. Due to the free electrons in graphite it leads to the conductance of electricity.
The positive oxidation states of carbon in the formation of polyatomic ions and the conductance of electricity by graphite is the metallic character of carbon.

Note:
Metals have some properties like high melting and boiling points, ductility, malleability, high density, good conductors of heat and electricity. Carbon can tend to have high density when it forms bonds with oxygen. It is one of the properties that leads to the metallic character of carbon.