decacarbonyl

Decacarbonyl is a term that can refer to two distinct chemical entities, both relating to the element carbon. The first, and most common, usage pertains to a cluster of ten carbon atoms. Such clusters are often studied in the context of carbon nanostructures and theoretical chemistry. The specific arrangement and bonding of these ten carbon atoms can lead to various allotropes or molecular structures, each with potentially unique properties. Research into decacarbonyl clusters explores their stability, reactivity, and potential applications in fields like materials science and nanotechnology.

The second, less common, meaning of decacarbonyl relates to a complex containing ten carbonyl ligands. Carbonyl ligands are molecules or ions where a carbon atom is double-bonded to an oxygen atom (CO). These ligands are prevalent in organometallic chemistry, where they bind to metal atoms. A decacarbonyl complex would therefore involve a metal center coordinated by ten such CO groups. Examples of such complexes are rare and highly specific to certain metal and coordination geometries. The study of these complexes contributes to understanding metal-ligand bonding and catalytic processes.