( ( Like graphite ) ( , ( they ( ( are ( ( a ( crystalline form ) ) ( of ( ( carbon , ) ( ( the ( chemical element ) ) ( that ( provides ( ( the basis ) ( for ( ( all life ) ( on Earth ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN Like) (NP (NN graphite))) (, ,) (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP are) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ crystalline) (NN form)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NN carbon)) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ chemical) (NN element)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBZ provides) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN basis)) (PP (IN for) (NP (NP (DT all) (NN life)) (PP (IN on) (NP (NNP Earth)))))))))))))) (. .)))
Like graphite, they are a crystalline form of carbon, the chemical element that provides the basis for all life on Earth.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNS Compounds)) (VP (VBG containing) (NP (DT the) (NN element) (NN carbon)))) (VP (VBP are) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN basis)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT all) (VBN known) (NN life))))) (. .)))
Compounds containing the element carbon are the basis of all known life.