Lecture: The History of a Carbon Atom

Speaker: Dr. Reg Bradshaw, University of Bristol

Entry Fee

Members: Free

Visitors: £5.00

Date and Time

19:30 -

Location

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HN


Lecture Description

Carbon, like the other light elements, has a long history from very shortly after the Big Bang, 15,000 million years or so ago, down to the present. Its earthly history, of course, is only some 4600 million years; one short-lived form can be generated at any time in the atmosphere. Carbon can exist as a native element in at least three crystalline forms; in the gaseous state bound to oxygen or hydrogen it forms carbon dioxide or hydrocarbons e.g. methane respectively; linked with three oxygen atoms to form the carbonate ion it exists in aqueous solution or as carbonate minerals in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and as the external skeleton of many organisms; perhaps most importantly as carbon dioxide it is the raw material for photosynthesis and is the basis of all living matter. The talk will trace a partial history through time of a carbon atom as it passes between a variety of the above environments.


Attending via Zoom

This is a hybrid meeting: you can attend in person or join online via Zoom.

Bath Geological Society Members: Free of charge. Joining instructions and the Zoom link are sent to members by email prior to the lecture.

Visitors & Non-Members: (including members of the Geologists' Association and affiliated societies) Please book via Eventbrite to receive Zoom access (see the Entry Fee details above).

How to join: Click the Zoom link provided in your email or Eventbrite confirmation. You can join using the Zoom desktop or mobile app, or directly via your web browser without installing any software. The virtual waiting room opens approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled start time, and attendees will be admitted before the talk commences.

For any queries about joining online, please contact [email protected].



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