| Glossary C-D |
| Cc Caprolactam One of the ingredients that are used to synthesise the most common nylon. Caprolactam is made from phenol. Carbon An element forming a large number of compounds, many of which have important uses. Diamond and graphite are amongst the main forms of carbon. Coals are elemental carbon mixed with varying amounts of carbon compounds; coke and charcoal are nearly pure carbon. All organic compounds, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, contain carbon, and all plant and animal cells consist of carbon compounds and their polymers. Carbon dioxide (CO2) A colourless, non-poisonous gas that is a normal part of the ambient air. Carbon dioxide is formed in combustion of fossil fuel and carbon-containing materials, in fermentation, and in respiration of animals and employed by plants in the photosynthesis of carbohydrates. Catalyst A substance which aids or promotes a chemical reaction without forming part of the final product. It enables the reaction to take place faster, remains unchanged at the end of the reaction and can provide control by increasing desirable reactions and decreasing undesirable reactions. Catalytic cracking The process of breaking up heavier hydrocarbon molecules into lighter hydrocarbon fractions by use of heat and catalysts. See also Cracking. Cefic Cefic is the European Chemical Industry Council, the Brussels-based organisation representing national chemical federations and chemical companies of Europe. Cefic represents, directly or indirectly, more than 40,000 large, medium and small chemical companies in Europe, which employ about 2 million people and account for more than 30% of world chemical production. Chemical element See Atom. Chemical reaction A chemical process in which substances are changed into different substances. Chemical reactions are manifested by the disappearance of properties characteristic of the starting materials and the appearance of new properties that distinguish the products. Examples of chemical reactions include burning of wood, fermentation of crops to make alcohol, tarnishing of silver, digestion of food and the synthesis of polystyrene plastics. Chlorobenzene A colourless, liquid organic compound used as a solvent and starting material for the manufacture of other organic compounds, such as phenol. Clean fuels So-called clean fuels are among the instruments introduced by EU Member States to combat air pollution problems arising from increases in road transport. See Auto-Oil Programme. CO2 See Carbon dioxide Coal A black or brownish black solid, combustible carbon-rich substance formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter without access to air. Coal is one of the most important of the primary fossil fuels. It is indispensable to life and constitutes humankind's main source of energy. Coal tar Coal tar is a principal liquid product resulting from the carbonisation of coal, i.e. the heating of coal in the absence of air at temperatures ranging from about 900º to 1,200ºC (1,650º to 2,200ºF). Many commercially important compounds are derived from coal tar, such as dyestuffs and pigments. Compound A compound (or molecule) is a combination of two or more chemical elements (atoms) held together by chemical bonds. CONCAWE The Oil Companies' European Organisation for Environment, Health and Safety Conversion In the plastics industry, conversion is the processing of raw materials into usable forms, e.g. the conversion of plastic pellets into films or the conversion of films into food containers. The steps involved include compounding (the mixing together of various raw materials, e.g. polymers and additives), melting and extruding, shaping and solidifying. Cracking/Cracker The process of breaking down large molecules of oil into smaller ones. When this process is achieved by the application of heat only, it is known as thermal cracking. If a catalyst is used as well it is known as catalytic cracking. Cracking causes molecular decomposition and recombination to produce a range of more useful base chemicals. Cracking is the basic process taking place in crackers. Crude oil A mixture of comparatively volatile liquid hydrocarbons that occurs in the Earth's crust and is extracted for use as fuel and various petroleum products. Typically, crude oil contains, in various percentages, a mixture of naphtha, kerosene, middle distillates and fuel oils. Cumene Cumene is an aromatic derived from benzene and used in turn to produce polycarbonates, phenolic resins and essential healthcare products such as aspirin and penicillin. Cyclohexane Cyclohexane is an aromatic derived from benzene used as an intermediate to produce nylon. Dd Distillation The process of boiling a liquid and condensing and collecting the vapour. This process is used to purify liquids and to separate liquid mixtures. In the oil industry, distillation is used to separate crude oil, which is a mixture of hydrocarbons with different boiling temperatures, into groups of hydrocarbons that boil between two specified boiling points. Back to Home Page |