Chemistry terms starting with C

Calcination Stoichiometry & Chemical Reactions °C The heating of an ore or compound to high temperature in the absence or limited supply of air to drive off volatile matter. MCO₃ →(Δ) MO + CO₂

Calibration Curve Analytical Chemistry & Spectroscopy Various A plot of instrument response against known analyte concentration, used to determine unknowns. y = mx + c

Calomel Electrode Electrochemistry & Redox V A reference electrode based on the equilibrium between mercury, mercury(I) chloride and chloride ions. Hg₂Cl₂ + 2e⁻ ⇌ 2Hg + 2Cl⁻

Calorific Value Thermochemistry & Thermodynamics kJ/g The heat released by the complete combustion of unit mass of a fuel. CV = ΔH_c / molar mass

Calorimetry Thermochemistry & Thermodynamics J The experimental measurement of heat exchanged during a physical or chemical change. q = mcΔT

Cannizzaro Reaction Organic Chemistry Dimensionless The disproportionation of an aldehyde with no alpha hydrogen under concentrated alkali into an alcohol and a carboxylate. 2RCHO + OH⁻ → RCH₂OH + RCOO⁻

Capillary Action States of Matter & Gas Laws m The spontaneous rise or fall of a liquid in a narrow tube, driven by the balance between adhesion and cohesion. h = 2γcosθ / ρgr

Carbanion Organic Chemistry Dimensionless An organic ion in which a carbon atom bears a negative charge and a lone pair. R₃C⁻

Carbocation Organic Chemistry Dimensionless An organic ion in which a carbon atom bears a positive charge and only six valence electrons. R₃C⁺

Carbohydrate Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry Dimensionless A biomolecule composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, usually with hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio found in water. Cₓ(H₂O)_y

Carbon-13 NMR Analytical Chemistry & Spectroscopy ppm An NMR technique that detects the carbon-13 nucleus to reveal the carbon skeleton of a molecule. δ 0–220 ppm

Carboxylic Acid Organic Chemistry Dimensionless A compound containing a carboxyl group, in which a carbonyl and a hydroxyl group share the same carbon. R–COOH

Carnot Cycle Thermochemistry & Thermodynamics Dimensionless An idealised reversible cycle of two isothermal and two adiabatic steps that defines the maximum efficiency of a heat engine. η = 1 − T_cold / T_hot

Catalysis Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis Dimensionless The process by which a reaction rate is increased through the action of a catalyst.

Catalyst Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis Dimensionless A substance that increases the rate of a reaction by providing an alternative pathway of lower activation energy, without being consumed.

Catalyst Poisoning Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis Dimensionless The loss of catalytic activity caused by a substance binding irreversibly to the active sites.

Cathode Electrochemistry & Redox Dimensionless The electrode at which reduction occurs.

Cathodic Protection Electrochemistry & Redox V The prevention of corrosion by forcing the metal to be protected to act as a cathode.

Cation Foundations of Chemistry C (charge) A positively charged ion produced when an atom or molecule loses one or more electrons. M → Mⁿ⁺ + n e⁻

Cell Notation Electrochemistry & Redox Dimensionless A shorthand convention for representing an electrochemical cell using vertical lines for phase boundaries. Zn(s) | Zn²⁺(aq) ‖ Cu²⁺(aq) | Cu(s)

Cell Potential Electrochemistry & Redox V The difference in electrical potential between the two electrodes of an electrochemical cell. E_cell = E_red(cathode) − E_red(anode)

Cellular Respiration Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry kJ/mol The oxidation of nutrients within cells to release energy as ATP. C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O

Cellulose Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry Dimensionless The structural polysaccharide of plant cell walls, a linear polymer of beta-linked glucose. (C₆H₁₀O₅)ₙ

Central Metal Atom Inorganic & Coordination Chemistry Dimensionless The metal atom or ion at the heart of a coordination entity, which accepts electron pairs from the ligands.

Terms starting with C