List of Science Words That Start With C

Looking for science words that start with C? You’ve come to the right place.

From Chromosome to Covalent Bond, the subject I loved most at school – there are some awesome science-related words beginning with the letter C.

Here is a list with some words beginning with C that are commonly used in science:

Cell – a tiny prison for organelles, responsible for carrying out various functions within an organism. It’s like a prison where the microscopic inmates have jobs.

Chromosome – a microscopic strand of genetic material that determines our fate, sort of like a fortune cookie. You don’t get to choose what’s inside, but you have to live with it.

Carbon – the building block of life, essential for all living things. Also, a major contributor to climate change, so it’s like the hero and villain of the story.

Chemical – a substance made up of two or more atoms that are bonded together, and often lead to reactions that make things go kaboom. It’s like baking a cake, but sometimes the cake explodes.

Conduction – the transfer of heat or electricity through a substance, like passing the baton in a relay race. But instead of runners, it’s electrons and they’re lazy, so sometimes they just hang out instead of passing the baton.

Convection – the movement of heat through fluids, like hot air rising and cool air sinking. It’s like a giant soup pot, but instead of stirring the soup, you just let it simmer and let the heat do the work.

Combustion – the process of burning fuel to release energy and creating fire, like a tiny little volcano but instead of lava, you get heat and flames.

Cosmology – the study of the universe, from the smallest particles to the largest structures.

Cryogenics – the science of freezing things to extreme temperatures, like Han Solo being frozen in carbonite. Except instead of preserving a person, it’s used to store sperm and ice cream.

Crystal – a solid substance with a repeating pattern of atoms or molecules, like a beautiful work of art made by nature.

Crust – the outermost layer of the Earth, where we all live and where everything goes down. It’s like the protective shell of the planet, like a hard candy coating.

Cytoskeleton – a network of proteins that give cells their shape and allow them to move, like the scaffolding of a building.

Corrosion – the process of materials breaking down due to chemical reactions, like rust on a car.

Cation – a positively charged ion, like a happy little puppy that always wants to play except instead of playing, it’s just looking for electrons to steal.

Chlorophyll – the green pigment found in plants that allows them to carry out photosynthesis.

Continental drift – the slow movement of Earth’s continents over time, like a never-ending game of musical chairs but instead of chairs, it’s giant landmasses.

Capacitance – the ability of a system to store an electrical charge, like a battery.

Covalent bond – the sharing of electrons between atoms to form a strong bond, like a long-distance relationship.

Comet tail – the glowing trail left behind a comet as it travels through space, like  magical fairy dust made of ice and dust.

Cosmic ray – a high-energy particle that originates from outer space, like a tiny superhero flying through space.

Chloroplast – the organelle that gives plants their green color and allows them to perform photosynthesis, which is basically a plant’s way of getting a tan and eating a sandwich at the same time.

Centrifuge – a machine that separates liquids or gases of different densities by spinning them around really fast, like a carnival ride for molecules.

Comet nucleus – the solid, icy center of a comet that contains a lot of dust and gas, sort of like the inside of a dirty snowball that’s been launched into space.

Cryosphere – the part of the Earth’s surface that is frozen, including snow, ice, and frozen tundra. It’s like the planet’s giant ice tray.

Cell membrane – a thin, flexible layer that surrounds a cell and keeps all the important stuff inside, like a very exclusive nightclub bouncer.

Carbon cycle – the process by which carbon is exchanged between the atmosphere, the oceans, and living organisms, like a massive game of hot potato with carbon.

Calcium – a mineral that is essential for strong bones and teeth, but is also found in milk, cheese, and yogurt.

Cytokinesis – the final stage of cell division, where the cytoplasm is divided and two daughter cells are formed, like the end of a clean breakup.

Calorimeter – a device used to measure the amount of heat released or absorbed during a chemical reaction.

Carcinogen – something that causes cancer, like tobacco smoke or exposure to radiation.

Chemical reaction – a process that results in the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another, like the ultimate makeover for molecules.

Circadian rhythm – the natural biological rhythm that regulates sleep and wake cycles, like a built-in alarm clock that tells you when to go to bed and wake up.

Conductor – a material that allows electricity or heat to flow through it easily, like a wingman for energy. Talk to me Goose.

Cyclone – a system of winds rotating inward to an area of low pressure, think of it like a giant vacuum cleaner in the sky.

Chirality – the property of asymmetry in molecules, which is like trying to fit a right-handed glove on your left hand.

Combustible – a material that is capable of catching fire and burning, like your ex’s mixtape that you’re finally ready to let go of.

Cholesterol – a waxy substance found in animal fats that can contribute to heart disease if consumed in excess, but also serves as a reminder that life is all about balance.

Cytoplasm – the gel-like substance that fills a cell and contains all the organelles, like the ultimate swimming pool for cellular life.

Calorie – a unit of energy used to measure the amount of energy stored in food, like the fuel gauge on your body’s gas tank.

Capillary – a small blood vessel that allows for the exchange of nutrients and waste between the blood and tissues.

Carbohydrate – a macronutrient that provides energy to the body, but also serves as the ultimate temptation for anyone trying to go on a low-carb diet.

Carnivore – an animal that primarily eats meat, like a t-rex or me at a summer barbecue.

Catalyst – a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process, pretty much the ultimate hype man for molecules.

Cathode – the electrode where electrons enter an electrical device, like the welcome mat for electricity.

Cepheid – a star that pulsates with a predictable rhythm, like a galactic metronome.

Cerebellum – the part of the brain that’s responsible for your balance and coordination, unless you’ve had too much to drink, then it’s on vacation.

Cerebral cortex – the outer layer of the brain that’s responsible for thinking, decision-making, and creativity also known as the “Genius Zone” (at least that’s what it tells itself).

Chemoreceptor – a special type of cell that detects chemicals in the environment, which can be really handy if you’re trying to find food, but less handy if you’re trying to avoid a skunk.

Chromatography – a fancy word for separating mixtures of chemicals. It’s like sorting M&Ms by color, but for science.

Chrysalis – a cocoon-like structure that some insects make before they turn into butterflies. It’s like a magical time-out where they get to transform into something beautiful.

Cilia – tiny hair-like structures on the surface of cells that help them move around or move things along. They’re basically the cell’s equivalent of a little paddle boat with hundreds of little rows.

Coagulation – the process of blood turning from a liquid to a solid. It’s like when Jello goes from a liquid to a solid, but way less appetizing.

I hope you found the words you were looking for from the list above. This isn’t an exhaustive list, if there are any science words starting with the letter C that you would like added to the list, please leave me a comment below.