Carbon - Key terms
ALLOTROPES:
Different versions of the same element, distinguished by molecular structure.
AMORPHOUS:
Having no definite structure.
CARBOHYDRATES:
Naturally occurring compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. These are primarily produced by green plants through the process of photosynthesis.
CELLULAR RESPIRATION:
The process whereby nutrients from plants are broken down in an animal's body to create carbon dioxide.
COVALENT BONDING:
A type of chemical bonding in which two atoms share valence electrons.
CRYSTALLINE:
A term describing a type of solid in which the constituent parts have a simple and definite geometric arrangement that is repeated in all directions.
DOUBLE BOND:
A form of bonding in which two atoms share two pairs of valence electrons. Carbon is also capable of single bonds and triple bonds.
ELECTRONEGATIVITY:
The relative ability of an atom to attract valence electrons.
ION:
An atom or group of atoms that has lost or gained one or more electrons, and thus has a net electric charge.
IONIC BONDING:
A form of chemical bonding that results from attractions between ions with opposite electric charges.
ISOMERS:
Substances which have the same chemical formula, but which are different chemically due to differences in the arrangement of atoms.
ISOTOPES:
Atoms that have an equal number of protons, and hence are of the same element, but differ in their number of neutrons. This results in a difference ofmass. Isotopes may be either stable or unstable. The latter type, known as radioisotopes, are radioactive.
OCTET RULE:
A term describing the distribution of valence electrons that takes place in chemical bonding for most elements, which usually end up with eight valence electrons.
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY:
The study of carbon, its compounds, and their properties. (Many carbon-containing oxides and carbonates are not considered organic, however.)
PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
The biological conversion of light energy (that is, electromagnetic energy) to chemical energy inp lants.
RADIOACTIVITY:
A term describing a phenomenon whereby certain isotopes known as radioisotopes are subject to a form of decay brought about by the emission of high-energy particles. "Decay" does not mean that the isotope "rots"; rather, it decays to form another isotope until eventually (though this may take a long time) it becomes stable.
SINGLE BOND:
A form of bonding in which two atoms share one pair of valence electrons. Carbon is also capable of double bonds and triple bonds.
TETRAVALENT:
Capable of bonding to four other elements.
TRIPLE BOND:
A form of bonding in which two atoms share three pairs of valence electrons. Carbon is also capable of single bonds and double bonds.
VALENCE ELECTRONS:
Electrons that occupy the highest principal energy level in an atom. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.