Knowra Carbon Carbon Carbon is the chemical element with atomic number 6. Its ability to form stable bonds with itself and many other elements produces an exceptional range of molecules and solid forms.
Carbon atom : An atom with six protons and, in its neutral form, six electrons. Its four valence electrons let carbon form diverse covalent bonds.
Catenation : The bonding of atoms of the same element into chains or rings. Carbon’s strong carbon–carbon bonds let it build long, stable frameworks.
Organic chemistry : The study of carbon-containing compounds, especially their structures, properties, and reactions. Carbon’s bonding versatility makes it the organizing element of this chemical field.
Triple-alpha process : A stellar nuclear reaction that fuses three helium-4 nuclei to form carbon-12. This process explains how stars produce much of the universe’s carbon.
Carbon-based life : Life whose structures and biochemical processes rely on carbon-containing molecules. Carbon’s stable, diverse bonding supports the complex molecules found in known organisms.
Covalent bond : A chemical bond formed when atoms share pairs of electrons. Carbon’s stable covalent bonds underpin its molecular and solid structures.
Hybridization : A model that combines atomic orbitals to describe bonding and molecular geometry. Carbon’s sp, sp², and sp³ bonding corresponds to different structures and shapes.
Carbon cycle : The movement of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, land, rocks, and living organisms. This cycle tracks carbon between reservoirs and helps explain its environmental effects.
Stellar nucleosynthesis : The creation of chemical elements through nuclear reactions inside stars and stellar explosions. Carbon’s cosmic abundance emerges from the broader history of element formation.
Carbon dioxide : A colorless gas composed of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. This atmospheric carbon compound links fossil-fuel use to climate warming.
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