( ( carbon ( ( A ( nonmetallic element ) ) ( that ( serves ( as ( ( a ( building block ) ) ( for ( all ( living things ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . )
(ROOT (S (VP (VB carbon) (NP (NP (DT A) (JJ nonmetallic) (NN element)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBZ serves) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN building) (NN block)) (PP (IN for) (NP (DT all) (VBG living) (NNS things)))))))))) (. .)))
carbon  A nonmetallic element that serves as a building block for all living things.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT All) (NN life)) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN built) (PP (IN around) (NP (DT the) (NN element) (NN carbon))))) (. .)))