Page 40 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

WordstoKnow
•

C

CARBOHYDRATES Organic compounds composed of carbon,
oxygen, and hydrogen, which are used by the body as
food.

CARBOXYL GROUPS Groups of atoms consisting of a carbon
atom double bonded to an oxygen atom and single
bonded to a hydroxyl (-OH) group (–COOH).

CARCINOGEN A substance that causes cancer in humans or
other animals.

CATALYST A material that increases the rate of a chemical
reaction without undergoing any change in its own che-
mical structure.

CATHODE The electrode in a battery through which electrons
enter the fuel cell.

CATION A positively charged ion.

CAUSTIC Capable of burning or eating away, usually by the
action of chemical reactions.

CENTRIFUGE A device that separates substances that have
different densities by using centrifugal force.

CHELATE A chemical compound that is in the form of a ring.
It usually contains one metal ion attached to a minimum
of two nonmetal ions by coordinate bonds.

CHEMILUMINESCENCE Light produced by a chemical reac-
tion.

CHIRAL A molecule with different left-handed and right-
handed forms; not mirror symmetric.

CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCS) A family of chemicals
made up of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. CFCs were used
as a refrigerant and propellant before they were banned
for fear that they were destroying the ozone layer.

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS xxxix