Definition

A type of ion where a carbon atom has a negative charge and holds an extra pair of electrons.

Example

In organic chemistry, a carbanion can act as a nucleophile in reactions.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a carbanion?

Yeah, I think it's an ion with a negative charge on a carbon atom, right?

Exactly! It has that extra pair of electrons, which is pretty interesting.

Totally! I love how unique carbanions are in organic chemistry.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Carbanion is formed from "carb-" (derived from Latin "carbo", meaning coal or carbon) and "anion" (from Greek "anion", meaning to go up or upward). The term refers to a negatively charged ion that contains carbon, indicating that it is a carbon species that has gained an extra electron, thus carrying a negative charge.

Memory Tip

Think of 'carbon' ('carb-') as the element involved and 'anion' meaning a negatively charged particle. This helps you remember that a carbanion is a carbon atom that has gained an extra electron, making it negatively charged.

Visually Confused Words