it's not that they are different elements its just the way the "atoms" are arranged. if you wanted to get really technical then graphite is the purest form of "coal"

coal is just a name given to a fossil fuel made in a certain way. coal is comprised mainly of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the higer the carbon content the "purer" the coal is classified as going from lignite (brown coal) around 65% carbon to anthracite which is around  90+% carbon. graphite is not generally regarded as a coal due to the fact is not utilised in mainsteam as a fuel because its ridiculously hard to ignite it, but technically it is pure coal, comprising 100% carbon, aside from any impurities which we generally find in most elements (nitrogen in a dimaond being a good example)

technically peat is a form of coal too. but extremely soft. if i remember correctly all the peat in the world equates to some crazy amount of energy like 10 terajoules or something...cant remember the exact figure.

Quote from: Pirate88179 on November 06, 2008, 01:57:11 AM
pese:

Graphite is carbon.

Bill
[/quote
DIAMOND is also CARBON
(pur!)

all have chemical formula "C".
But al is differnt  in use, workink and possibility to use them.
Pese]

Well, here's a quick source: http://www.overunity.com/index.php?topic=5317.msg120810, also, you could use the larger graphite from drafting pencils for experimentation, they're much larger and come in a variety of hardnesses.  These can usually be purchased at office supply stores or college book stores and provide a simple alternative for testing purposes until you can move on to (EDM) electrode discharge machining graphite.

A warning about using salt as an electrolytic with water though, chlorine is given off.  If you stick with small currents for testing, this shouldn't be a problem; but I wouldn't use salt period, not in conjunction with graphite electrodes, it's just not a good idea.

i suggest XRD Graphite Manufacturing Co.,Ltd,top china graphite rods supplier,here is their official website: http://www.xrdcarbon.com/
hope can hlep you！

I get all of mine out of dead batteries.
single-cell they are in the center, small ones.
a 9-v has 6 of them, small ones.

the square-rectangle, 6-v batteries have great, large electrodes in side them.
these I used many times in electrolizer units (H2O), several battery experiments,
electroplating/unplating units, etc.
They are a carbon (graphite) powder, with an electrically conductive glue-like binder, that holds their form.
they are stable in most conditions and do not corrode.