Atoms Quote by August Kekule
“Carbon is, as may easily be shown and as I shall explain in greater detail later, tetrabasic or tetratomic, that is 1 atom of carbon = C = 12 is equivalent to 4 At.H.”
About This Quote
Source Scientific Paper: Chemische Untersuchungen, 1858, August Kekulé
Carbon atoms can form four bonds, allowing complex structures.
In simple terms: Carbon can make four connections.
Key Takeaway
Recognize carbon’s bonding capacity.
Themes
chemistry
atomic structure
bonding
Mood
analytical
educational
Type
scientific
explanatory
When to use this quote
- organic synthesis
- material science
- education
- research
Key Concepts
valence
molecular geometry
Questions to Reflect On
- How does carbon’s tetravalency affect organic chemistry?
- What implications does this have for material design?
A Different Perspective
Complex molecules need more than just carbon.
![“Stars die and reborn […] They get so hot that the nuclei of the atoms fuse together deep within them to make the oxygen we breathe, the carbon in our muscles, the calcium in our bones, the iron in our blood. All was cooked in the fiery hearts of long vanished stars. … The cosmos is also within us…” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7c7/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astronomy_stars-die-and-reborn-they-get-so-hot-tha_811740.jpg)
![“[Decoding the human genome sequence] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science. I believe that reading our blueprints, cataloguing our own instruction book, will be judged by history as more significant than even splitting the atom or…” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c6/francis-collins-5281_atoms_decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-th_15604.jpg)
