Chapter Notes: Carbon & Its
Compounds
Introduction
Compounds are of two types:
Organic Compounds
Inorganic Compounds
Organic Compounds are made up of Carbons and form the basis of all living
organisms.
The Covalent Bond
Carbon always forms covalent bond.
The bond formed by sharing of electron pair between two atoms are known as
covalent atoms.
Noble gas configuration of Carbon
Carbon is tetravalent, it does not form ionic bond by either losing four
electrons (C4+) or by gaining four electrons (C4-). It is difficult to hold four
extra electron and would require large amount of energy to remove four
electrons. So, carbon can form bond by sharing of its electrons with the
electrons of other carbon atom or with other element and attain noble gas
configuration.
The atoms of other elements like hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, chlorine also
form bonds by sharing of electrons.
H – H single bond between hydrogen atoms (H2)
N ≡ N triple bond between nitrogen atoms
Water molecule has single covalent bond between one oxygen and two
hydrogen atoms.
Physical Properties of Covalent Compounds
Covalent compounds have low melting and boiling points as they have weak
intermolecular force.
They are generally poor conductor of electricity as electrons are shared
between atoms and no charged particles are formed.
Versatile Nature of Carbon
The two characteristic properties of carbon element which lead to the formation of
large number of compounds :
Catenation:Carbon can link with carbon atoms by means of covalent bonds to
form long chains, branched chains and closed ring Compound.
Carbon atoms may be linked by single, double or triple bonds.
Tetravalency:Carbon has 4 valence electrons. Carbon can bond with four
carbon atoms, monovalent atoms, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur.
Hydrocarbon
Compounds made up of hydrogen and carbon are called hydrocarbon.
There are two types of Hydrocarbons.
(i)Saturated Hydrocarbons
(ii)Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
1. Saturated Hydrocarbons
Single bond between carbon atoms.
ㅡCㅡCㅡ
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons.
General Formula: CnH2n+2
2. Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
Double or triple bond between carbon atoms.
Alkenes and Alkynes are unsaturated hydrocarbons.
Alkenes: ㅡC＝Cㅡ
General formula: CnH2n
Alkynes: ㅡC≡Cㅡ
General Formula: CnH2n-2
Electron Dot Structure of Saturated Hydrocarbons
• Ethane C2H6
Names, molecular formulae and structure formulae of saturated hydrocarbons
(Alkanes):
Electron Dot Structure of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
• Ethene (C2H4)
• Ethyne (C2H2)
Names, molecular formulae and structure formulae of unsaturated hydrocarbons
(Alkenes and Alkynes):
Carbon Compounds on the Basis of Structure
(i) Straight (unbranched) chain
Example: C3H8
(ii) Branched
These three above compounds has same molecular formula but different
structures are called structural isomers and phenomenon is structural
isomerism.
(iii) Cyclic
Example: C6H12
Functional Groups
In hydrocarbon chain, one or more hydrogen atom is replaced by other atoms
in accordance with their valancies. These are heteroatom.
These heteroatom or group of atoms which make carbon compound reactive
and decides its properties are called functional groups.
Homologous Series
It is series of compounds in which the some functional group substitutes for
the hydrogen in a carbon chain.
Example:Alcohols – CH3OH, C2H5OH, C3H7OH, C4H9OH
They have same general formula.
Any two homologues differ by – CH2group and difference in molecular mass is
14µ.
They have same chemical properties but show gradual change in physical
properties.
Nomenclature of Carbon Compounds
(i) Identify the number of carbon atoms in compounds.
(ii) Functional group is indicated by suffix or prefix.
Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds
(i) Combustion
Carbon and its compounds are used as fuels because they burn in air releasing
lot of heat energy.
Saturated hydrocarbon generally burn in air with blue and non-sooty flame.
Unsaturated hydrocarbon burns in air with yellow sooty flame because
percentage of carbon is higher than saturated hydrocarbon which does not get
completely oxidized in air.
(ii) Oxidation
Alcohols can be converted to carboxylic acid in presence of oxidizing agent alkaline
KMnO4 (potassium permangnate) or acidic potassium dichromate.
(iii) Addition Reaction
Unsaturated hydrocarbon add hydrogen in the presence of catalyst palladium or
nickel. Vegetable oils are converted into vegetable ghee using this process.
It is also called hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
(iv) Substitution Reaction
Important Carbon Compounds: Ethanol and Ethanoic acid
Physical Properties of Ethanol
Colourless, pleasant smell and burning taste.
Soluble in water.
Volatile liquid with low boiling point of 351 K.
Neutral compound.
Chemical Properties of Ethanol
(i) Reaction with Sodium
This reaction is used as a test for ethanol by evolution of H2gas (Burn with pop
sound).
(ii) Dehydration
Physical Properties of Ethanoic acid
Colourless liquid having sour taste and have smell of vinegar.
Boiling point is 391 K.
When pure CH3COOH is freezed, it forms colourless ice like solid. So it is called
glacial acetic acid.
Chemical Properties
(i) Esterification
Sweet smelling ester is formed.
This is saponification as soap is prepared by this.
(ii)Reaction with base
NaOH + CH3COOH → CH3COONa + H2O
(iii)Reaction with carbonates and hydrogen carbonates :
2CH3COOH + Na2CO3→ 2CH3COONa + H2O + CO2
CHH2COOH + NaHCOH2→ CH3COONa + H2O + CO2
Soaps and Detergents
Soap is sodium or potassium salt of long chain carboxylic acid. Example:
C17H35COONa+
Soaps are effective only in soft water.
Detergents are ammonium or sulphonate salt of long chain of carboxylic acid.
Detergents are effective in both hard and soft water.
Soap molecule has:
(i) Ionic (hydrophilic) part
(ii)Long hydrocarbon chain (hydrophobic) part
Cleansing Action of Soap
Most dirt is oily in nature and hydrophobic end attaches itself with dirt and the
ionic end is surrounded with molecule of water. This result in formation of a
radial structure called micelles.
Soap micelles helps to dissolve dirt and grease in water and cloth gets cleaned.
Soap is mixture of miscelles and
The magnesium and calcium salt present in hard water react with soap
molecule to form insoluble product called scum. This scum create difficulty in
cleansing action.
By use of detergent, insoluble scum is not formed with hard water and cloths
get cleaned effectively.
