CARBON n.
An elementary substance, not metallic in its nature, which is present in all organic compounds. Atomic weight 11.97. Symbol C. it is combustible, and forms the base of lampblack and charcoal, and enters largely into mineral coals. In its pure crystallized state it constitutes the diamond, the hardest of known substance…
CARBOXIDE n.
A compound of carbon and oxygen, as carbonyl, with some element or radical; as, potassium carboxide. Potassium carboxide, a grayish explosive crystalline compound, C6O6K, obtained by passing carbon monoxide over heated potassium.
CAUSE n.
inal cause, the end, design, or object, for which anything is done. -- Formal cause, the elements of a conception which make the conception or the thing conceived to be what it is; or the idea viewed as a formative principle and coöperating with the matter. -- Material cause, that of which anything is made. -- Proxi…
CELLULAR a.
. -- Cellular theory, or Cell theory (Biol.), a theory, according to which the essential element of every tissue, either vegetable or animal, is a cell; the whole series of cells having been formed from the development of the germ cell and by differentiation converted into tissues and organs which, both in plants ans…
CERIUM n.
A rare metallic element, occurring in the minerals cerite, allanite, monazite, etc. Symbol Ce. Atomic weight 141.5. It resembles iron in color and luster, but is soft, and both malleable and ductile. It tarnishes readily in the air.
CHLORIC a.
ning to, or obtained from, chlorine; -- said of those compounds of chlorine in which this element has a valence of five, or the next to its highest; as, chloric acid, HClO3. Chloric ether (Chem.), ethylene dichloride. See Dutch liquid, under Dutch.
CHLORIDE n.
A binary compound of chlorine with another element or radical; as, chloride of sodium (common salt). Chloride of ammonium, sal ammoniac. -- Chloride of lime, bleaching powder; a grayish white substance, CaOClcalcium hypochlorite. See Hypochlorous acid, under Hypochlorous. -- Mercuric chloride, corrosive sublimate.…
CHLORINE n.
One of the elementary substances, commonly isolated as a greenish yellow gas, two and one half times as heavy as air, of an intensely disagreeable suffocating odor, and exceedingly poisonous. It is abundant in nature, the most important compound being common salt. It is powerful oxidizing, bleaching, and disinfecting a…
CHROMIUM n.
A comparatively rare element occurring most abundantly in the mineral chromite. Atomic weight 52.5. Symbol Cr. When isolated it is a hard, brittle, grayish white metal, fusible with difficulty. Its chief commercial importance is for its compounds, as potassium chromate, lead chromate, etc., which are brilliantly colore…
CHROMOUS a.
Of, pertaining to, or derived from, chromium, when this element has a valence lower than that in chromic compounds. Chromous acid, a bluish gray powder, CrO.OH, of weak acid properties and regard as an acid.