Glossary - Carbon Jargon

	Aliphatics	Carbon compounds whose structure is based on chains of carbon.
	Allotrope	A different physical form of the same element due to different arrangement of atoms.
	Aromatics	Carbon compounds whose structure is based on rings of carbon.
	Chemical equation	Shorthand way of presenting what substances react together and what is produced. It also shows the number of atoms or molecules involved in the reaction.
	Covalent bond	A bond that consists of one or more shared pairs of electrons. Each bonded atom contributes one electron towards the shared pair.
	Electrons	These are found orbiting the nucleus of an atom and have a negative charge. Shell(s) of electrons are present in all atoms. The inner shell of any atom has a capacity of 2 electrons and any further shells have a capacity of 8 electrons. In a neutral atom the number of protons is the same as the number of electrons.
	Functional group	The part of a compound that takes part in the reaction.
	Ion	An ion is an atom which has lost or gained electrons and has become positively or negatively charged respectively.
	Ionic bond	A bond produced when electrons are transferred from one atom to another.
	Metal carbonates	A compound containing a metal, carbon and oxgen. For example Limestone has calcium, carbon and oxygen.
	Neutrons	These are found in the centre of the atom and have no ("neutral") charge. If this number varies in a certain element you get an isotope of the element. For example, carbon-dating uses an isotope of carbon to put an age on very old artefacts found.
	Organic Chemistry	A branch of chemistry concerned solely with carbon and its compounds.
	Oxidation	Oxidation occurs when an atom loses electrons. It thereby becomes a positively charged ion, and is said to be oxidised.
	Proton	These are found in the centre of the charge and have a positive (+) charge.
	Reduction	Reduction is when an atom gains electrons.
	Saturated compounds	Compounds in which carbon atoms are joined together by single bonds.
	Unsaturated compounds	Compounds in which carbon atoms are joined together by double or triple bonds.
	Valency	The number of electrons an atom of an element must give or receive to achieve noble gas structure.

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