Why are some words with a '' c'' pronounced with a '' k''?

Some Words with a "c" are pronounced with a "k" sound due to the rules of English phonetics. When "c" is followed by the vowels "a," "o," or "u," it typically takes on the hard "k" sound, as in "cat," "cot," or "cut." Conversely, when "c" precedes the vowels "e," "i," or "y," it usually has a soft "s" sound, as in "cell," "city," or "cylinder." This distinction helps maintain clarity in pronunciation and Word recognition.