catenation
Atoms linking sequentially
Catenation is the linking of atoms of the same element into chains or rings.
Carbon excels at this, which is why organic chemistry—the chemistry of carbon compounds—is so vast and varied.
The term extends to any process of forming connected chains, whether molecular or metaphorical.
Silicon shows some catenation but nothing like carbon's versatility.
Sixth element, atomic symbol C
- polymerizationMonomers bonding into chains
- organicFrom living matter
- macromoleculesVery large molecular structures
- alkanesSaturated hydrocarbon compounds
diamond · graphite · nanotubes · hydrocarbons · covalent · tetrahedral · heterocyclic · saturated
A joining or relation
- interconnectedJoined in multiple ways
- couplingJoint between systems
- junctionPoint where things meet
- attachmentConnection or fondness
fastening · splice · mesh · knot · weld · nexus · interlink · articulation
Ordered set of related items
- successionFollowing in order
- progressionSequential forward movement
- continuumUninterrupted, gradual sequence
- stringSlender fiber or character sequence
train · links · strand · lineup · stream · flow · queue · pattern
Tendency to bind together
- adhesionState of clinging fast
- affinityNatural liking or attraction
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- connectionA joining or relation
unity · bond · molecular · atomic · linking · joining · association
carbon
Sixth element, atomic symbol C
- polymerizationMonomers bonding into chains
- organicFrom living matter
- macromoleculesVery large molecular structures
alkanes · diamond · graphite · nanotubes · hydrocarbons · covalent · tetrahedral · heterocyclic · saturated · unsaturated
connection
A joining or relation
- interconnectedJoined in multiple ways
- couplingJoint between systems
- junctionPoint where things meet
attachment · fastening · splice · mesh · knot · weld · nexus · interlink · articulation · joining
series
Ordered set of related items
- successionFollowing in order
- progressionSequential forward movement
- continuumUninterrupted, gradual sequence
string · train · links · strand · lineup · stream · flow · queue · pattern · arrangement
cohesion
Tendency to bind together
- adhesionState of clinging fast
- affinityNatural liking or attraction
- attachmentConnection or fondness
connection · unity · bond · molecular · atomic · linking · joining · association
catenationdisconnection
State of being severed
separation · isolation · fragmentation · dissociation · disjunction
catenationinterruption
Break in continuity
termination · breaking · rupture · discontinuation · cleavage