Some of these radiocarbon atoms find their way into living trees and other plants in the form of Carbon Dioxide , as a result of photosynthesis. When the tree is cut down photosynthesis stops and the ratio of radiocarbon atoms to stable carbon atoms begins to fall as the radiocarbon decays. The ratio of Carbon14 to Carbon12 in the specimen can be measured and enables the time that has elapsed since the tree was cut down to be calculated. The free carbonate ion has a planar triangular structure. The carbonium ion is an organic ion with a positive charge on the carbon atom which has only six electrons.
Carbonium ions are intermediates in certain types of organic reactions.
In general, organic acids are weak acids. Many long-chain carboxylic acids occur naturally as esters in fats and oils and are therefore also known as fatty acids. Catalysis Catalysis is the process of changing the rate of a chemical reaction by use of a catalyst. Catalyst A catalyst is a substance that increases the speed of a chemical reaction, and is itself unaltered chemically at the end of the reaction. The catalyst alters the rates of chemical reactions by participating in the reaction, but is itself unaltered at the end of the reaction.