CBSE
CLASS 10
CARBON COMPOUNDS
Bonding in Carbon
1. Carbon compounds have low melting and boiling points as compared to ionic compounds
2. The forces of attraction between the molecules are not very strong.
3. These compounds are largely non-conductors of electricity
4. The bonding in these compounds does not give rise to any ions.
5. The atomic number of carbon is 6. In the case of carbon, it has four electrons in its outermost shell (Electronic
Configuration: 2, 4) and needs to gain or lose four electrons to attain noble gas configuration. If it were to gain or
lose electrons –
(i) It could gain four electrons forming C4– anion. But it would be difficult for the nucleus with six protons to hold
on to ten electrons, that is, four extra electrons.
(ii) It could lose four electrons forming C4+ cation. But it would require a large amount of energy to remove four
electrons leaving behind a carbon cation with six protons in its nucleus holding on to just two electrons.
★ Carbon overcomes this problem by sharing (mutual sharing) its valence electrons with other atoms of carbon or with
atoms of other elements.
★ The shared pair of electrons is said to constitute a single covalent bond between the two combining atoms.
★ A single covalent bond is also represented by a line between the two atoms.
★ Since the electrons are shared between atoms and no charged particles are formed, such covalent compounds are
generally poor conductors of electricity.
Types of Covalent Bond
1. Single Covalent Bond: - formed by the sharing of one pair of electrons between the combining atoms.
- represented by a single line
- eg : H2 molecule
2. Double Covalent Bond: - formed by the sharing of two pairs of electrons between the combining atoms.
- represented by a double line.
- eg : O2 molecule
3. Triple Covalent Bond: - formed by the sharing of three pairs of electrons between the combining atoms.
- represented by a triple line.
- eg : N2 molecule
Allotropic Forms of Carbon
Diamond Graphite Buckminsterfullerene
1. each carbon atom is bonded to 1. each carbon atom is bonded to 1. containing clusters of 60 carbon
four other carbon atoms three other carbon atoms atoms joined together to form
spherical molecules. C60 (C-sixty)
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2. rigid three-dimensional structure 2. hexagonal arrayed structure, 2. football-shaped spherical
(TETRAHEDRON) which can slide over one another. molecule (BUCKY BALL)
3. Diamond is the hardest substance 3. Graphite is smooth and slippery 3. neither very hard nor soft
4. Diamond is a poor conductor of 4. Graphite is also a very good 4. Buckminsterfullerene is a dark
electricity conductor of electricity solid at room temperature.
5. Uses: 5. Uses: 5. There are twenty hexagons and
- diamonds are used in cutting - powdered graphite is used as a twelve pentagons of carbon atoms
instruments like glass cutters lubricant for the fast moving parts in one molecule.
- Diamonds are used for making of machinery.
jewellery - graphite is used for making
- Sharp-edged diamonds are used carbon electrodes or graphite
by eye-surgeons as a tool to remove electrodes in dry cells and electric
cataract from eyes with a great arcs.
precision - Graphite is used for making the
cores of our pencils called ‘pencil
leads’ and black paints/ inks.
★ Diamonds can be made artificially by subjecting pure carbon to very high pressure and temperature. These are called
synthetic diamonds (or artificial diamonds). The synthetic diamonds are small but are otherwise indistinguishable
from natural diamonds.
Organic Compounds
1. The compounds of carbon are known as organic compounds.
2. All carbon compounds aren’t organic but all organic compounds contain carbon. eg. CO2 is not organic compound
3. Carbon compounds (or organic compounds) are covalent compounds having low melting points and boiling points
4. Organic compounds occur in all living things like plants and animals
★ The study of carbon compounds (such as hydrocarbons and their derivatives) is called organic chemistry.
★ The oxides of carbon, carbonates, hydrogen carbonates and carbides are inorganic compounds which are studied
in inorganic chemistry.
★ The number of carbon compounds already known at present is more than 5 million.
Versatile Nature of Carbon
1. Catenation: (a) Carbon has the unique ability to form bonds with other atoms of carbon, giving rise to large
molecules.
(b) These compounds may have long chains of carbon, branched chains of carbon or even carbon
atoms arranged in rings.
(c) The carbon-carbon bond is very strong and hence stable. This gives us the large number of
compounds with many carbon atoms linked to each other.
(d) No other element exhibits the property of catenation to the extent seen in carbon compounds.
★ Silicon forms compounds with hydrogen which have chains of upto seven or eight atoms, but these
compounds are very reactive.
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2. Tetravalency: (a) carbon has a valency of four (4 electrons in the outermost shell)
(b) Due to its large valency of 4, a carbon atom can form covalent bonds with a number of carbon
atoms as well as with a large number of other atoms such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur,
chlorine, and many more atoms.
(c) the bonds that carbon forms with most other elements are very strong making these compounds
exceptionally stable. One reason for the formation of strong bonds by carbon is its small size.
Types of Organic Compounds
Some of the common types of organic compounds are:
1. Hydrocarbons
2. Haloalkanes
3. Alcohols
4. Aldehydes
5. Ketones
6. Carboxylic acids (Organic acids)
HYDROCARBONS:
1. A compound made up of hydrogen and carbon only is called hydrocarbon (Hydrogen + Carbon = Hydrocarbon).
2. Methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), ethene (C2H4), and ethyne (C2H2), are all hydrocarbons because they are made up
of only two elements : carbon and hydrogen.
3. The most important natural source of hydrocarbons is petroleum (or crude oil)
4. The natural gas which occurs above petroleum deposits also contains hydrocarbons.
Types of Hydrocarbons:
Saturated Hydrocarbons Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
1. carbon atoms are connected by only single bonds 1. carbon atoms are connected by double or triple bonds
2. alkANE : single bonded hydrocarbons 2. alkENE : double bonded hydrocarbons
alkYNE : triple bonded hydrocarbons
3. General Formula of Alkanes: CnH2n + 2 where n is 3. General Formula of Alkenes: CnH2n
the no. of carbon atoms General Formula of Alkynes: CnH2n – 2 where n is
the no. of carbon atoms.
4. undergo substitution reactions 4. undergo addition reactions
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