Abstract: This chapter discusses the basic organic crystal structures, starting with the allotropes of carbon. It then covers the (aliphatic, aromatic, and fullerenic) compounds of carbon and the bonding in these compounds. The abnormal carbon-carbon single bonds, complexes containing a naked carbon atom, and complexes containing naked dicarbon ligands are discussed. The subsequent sections are on the chemistry of silicon (including silicates, silicide, etc.), halides, oxides, polyatomic anions, and organometallic compounds of the heavier members of Group 14 (germanium, tin, and lead).

Keywords: allotropes of carbon, carbon nanotubes, carbon-carbon bonds, cluster complexes, disilenes, fullerenes, fullerenic compounds, hyperconjugation, silanes, silicates,