Carbon black is not a metal; it is a form of elemental carbon that is manufactured by the controlled vapor-phase pyrolysis of hydrocarbons or thermal decomposition of natural gas or petroleum oil. Specifically, it exists as a black, finely divided pellet or powder and is primarily used as a reinforcing filler in tires and other rubber products. It can also act as a black pigment and is utilized in inks, coatings, and plastics. Carbon black is distinct from metals in its chemical properties, such as electrical conductivity and reactivity. While metals are typically shiny, malleable, and good conductors of electricity and heat, carbon black is an insulator and lacks the luster and malleability of metals. It serves different roles in industrial applications, leveraging its properties as a non-metallic substance.

Transferring designs to fabric using an inkjet printer is fairly straightforward. First, you'll need to purchase printable fabric sheets designed for inkjet printers, available at craft stores or online. These sheets typically come with a paper backing that allows them to feed smoothly through the printer. Before printing, ensure your design is correctly sized and formatted for the fabric sheet. Load the fabric sheet into the printer, being careful to insert it in the direction that will print on the fabric side. Once printed, allow the ink to dry thoroughly. Some fabric sheets require setting the ink by ironing; follow the product's specific instructions. Finally, remove the paper backing (if applicable), and your design is ready to use in your sewing or craft project. Always test a small print first to ensure the color and quality meet your expectations.

The question of which amino acid is "softer" is a bit ambiguous because "softness" isn't a standard measure of amino acids. However, this question could pertain to the flexibility or adaptability of amino acids in protein structures. In this context, glycine is often considered the most "flexible" or "soft" amino acid due to its small size and the absence of a bulky side chain. Glycine has just a hydrogen atom as its side chain, the smallest possible, making it very adaptable and able to fit into tight spaces in protein folds. This property makes glycine a crucial component in flexible regions of proteins and in turns or loops where larger amino acids cannot be accommodated. Other "soft" amino acids in terms of flexibility might include proline, which introduces kinks into protein chains, and serine, which is often found in active sites of enzymes due to its reactive side chain.