Color my World

Today is a multi-colored day. Carbon is generally thought of as black - because of coal and graphite, but diamonds are pure carbon and are clear, sometimes translucent in color. Other elements derive their colors from the transition of elements between full and empty degenerate orbital states - the color being a measure of the visible light intensity. How nature does things is much more complex than the simple chemistry of carbon and hydrogen. However - we have to start somewhere.

For someone interested in some energy adventuring, this summer should be a fascinating time, as the wheels come off the gigantic biofuel locomotive and the 'smaller is wiser' contingent starts to develop steam. Chemistry for the average joe will return in some form, the pictures, descriptions and accounts of the last five years are ready for synthesis - we've moved past where we were. Time to play the game as a real chemist again ... consulting as to how to green the world by following the greenest greenie of them all, mother nature. 1st Crocus?