Texas Carbon Definition

A Texas carbon is the name given to a  carbon atom  that forms  five  bonds. The name Texas carbon comes from the shape formed by five bonds radiating outwards from the carbon similar to the star in the Texas state flag. Another popular idea is that the saying Everything is bigger in Texas   applies to carbon atoms. Although carbon usually forms 4 chemical bonds, its possible (though rare) for 5 bonds to form. The carbonium ion and superacid methanium (CH5) is a gas that can be produced under low-temperature laboratory conditions. CH4 H → CH5 Other examples of Texas carbon compounds  have been observed. References Synthesis and Characterization of Stable Hypervalent Carbon Compounds (10-C-5) Bearing a 2,6-Bis(p-substituted phenyloxymethyl)benzene LigandKin-ya Akiba  et al.  J. Am. Chem. Soc.,  2005,  127  (16), pp 5893–5901 Planar Pentacoordinate Carbon in CAl5: A Global MinimumYong  Pei,  Wei  An,  Keigo  Ito,  Paul von RagueÃŒ Ã‚  Schleyer  and  Xiao Cheng  Zeng  J. Am. Chem. Soc.,  2008  130  (31), 10394-10400