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December 4, 2023

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 Subject Science (Chemistry)

Class 10

Board CBSE & State Boards

Chapter No. 4

Chapter Name Carbon and its Compounds

Type Notes

Session 2024-25

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."

- Walt Disney

Carbon and Its Compounds Class 10 Notes

Bonding in Carbon - The Covalent Bond

Element Carbon

Atomic Number 6

Electronic Configuration 2, 4

Valence Electrons 4 (Carbon is tetravalent because it has 4 valence electrons)

Valency 4

Carbon neither gains nor loses 4 electrons to attain the noble gas electronic
configuration because:

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.
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 its valence electrons with other atoms of
carbon or with atoms of other elements.

The shared electrons ‘belong’ to the outermost shells of both the atoms and lead to both
atoms attaining the noble gas configuration.

Formation of Hydrogen molecule (H2)

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Formation of Oxygen Molecule (O2)

Formation of Nitrogen Molecule (N3)

Formation of Methane (CH4)

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 Electron dot structure of methane

Formation of Ethane (C2H6)

Electron dot structure of ethane

Formation of Ethene (C2H4)

Electron dot structure of ethene

Covalent Bond
Such bonds which are formed by the sharing of an electron pair between two atoms are
known as covalent bonds.

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Features of Covalent Compounds

Covalent compounds do not form ions, hence they are bad conductors of electricity.
The forces of attraction between the molecules are not very strong. Hence, covalent
compounds have low melting and boiling points.

Versatile Nature of Carbon

The two properties of carbon that led to the huge number of carbon compounds are:

1. Carbon has the unique ability to form bonds with other atoms of carbon, giving rise
to large molecules. This property is called catenation. (Carbon exhibits catenation
much more than silicon or any other element due to its smaller size which makes
the C-C bonds strong while the Si-Si bonds are comparatively weaker due to their
larger size.)
2. Since carbon has a valency of four, it is capable of bonding with four other atoms of
carbon or atoms of some other mono-valent element (Tetravalency).

Saturated and Unsaturated Carbon Compounds

Saturated Hydrocarbons Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

1. Compounds of carbon having only a 1. Compounds of carbon having double or

single bond between their carbon atoms triple bonds between their carbon atoms
are called saturated hydrocarbons. are called unsaturated hydrocarbons.

2. Less reactive than unsaturated 2. More reactive than saturated

hydrocarbons. hydrocarbons.

3. General formula is CnH2n+2. 3. General formula is CnH2n (alkenes) or

CnH2n-2 (alkynes).

4. It burns with a clean flame. 4. It burns with a yellow sooty flame.

5. Substitution reaction is the 5. Addition reaction is the characteristic

characteristic property of these property of these hydrocarbons.
hydrocarbons.

Hydrocarbons: Carbon compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen are called
hydrocarbons.

Alkanes: The saturated hydrocarbons are called alkanes.

Alkenes: The unsaturated hydrocarbons which contain one or more double bonds are
called alkenes.

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Alkynes: The unsaturated hydrocarbons which contain one or more triple bonds are
called alkynes.

Structural isomers: They have the same molecular formula but they differ in their
structures.

Structural isomers of C4H6 are

HC ≡ C - CH2 - CH3
H3C - C ≡ C - CH3
H2C = C = CH - CH3
H2C =CH - CH =CH2

Saturated Ring: Example: cyclohexane (C6H12)

Structure of cyclohexane

Unsaturated Ring: Example: benzene (C6H6)

Structure of benzene

Will you be my Friend?

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 Some functional groups in carbon compounds

Homologous Series: A series of compounds in which the same functional group

substitutes for hydrogen in a carbon chain is called a homologous series.

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Example: CH3OH, C2H5OH, C3H7OH, C4H9OH, ….

Characteristics of homologous series:

1. It has a general formula in terms of the number of carbon atoms.

2. It has the same functional group.
3. The members of a homologous series i.e., homologues, have similar chemical
properties.
4. The members of a homologous series i.e., homologues, show a gradation in
physical properties with an increase in molecular mass.
5. Formulae of two successive homologues differ by -CH2- unit.
6. The difference in molecular mass between two successive homologues is 14 u.

Nomenclature of Carbon Compounds

For nomenclature, watch the below video from 2:15:41

Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds

Combustion

Carbon burns in oxygen to give carbon dioxide along with the release of heat and light.

C + O2 → CO2 + heat and light

CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O + heat and light
CH3CH2OH (ethanol) + O2 → CO2 + H2O + heat and light

Oxidation

Carbon compounds can be easily oxidised on combustion.

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Reactions in which alcohols are converted to carboxylic acids.

Alkaline potassium permanganate or acidified potassium dichromate are oxidising

alcohols to acids, that is, adding oxygen to the starting material. Hence they are known as
oxidising agents.

Addition Reaction

Hydrogenation: The addition of hydrogen to an unsaturated hydrocarbon to get a

saturated hydrocarbon in presence of nickel or palladium as catalyst is called
hydrogenation.

This reaction is commonly used in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils using a nickel
catalyst.

Vegetable oils generally have long unsaturated carbon chains while animal fats have
saturated carbon chains.

Vegetable oils are ‘healthy’. Animal fats generally contain saturated fatty acids which are
said to be harmful for health. Oils containing unsaturated fatty acids should be chosen for
cooking.

Substitution Reaction

In the presence of sunlight, chlorine is added to hydrocarbons in a very fast reaction.

Chlorine can replace the hydrogen atoms one by one.

CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl (in the presence of sunlight)

Some Important Carbon Compounds - Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid

Properties of Ethanol
Ethanol is a liquid at room temperature.
Ethanol is commonly called alcohol and is the active ingredient of all alcoholic
drinks.
Ethanol is used to make cough syrups, tincture of iodine, etc.

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 It is also used as a fuel as an additive to petroleum.
Ethanol is soluble in water in all proportions.

Reactions of Ethanol

1. Reaction with sodium

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2Na + 2CH3CH2OH → 2CH3CH2O–Na+ (sodium ethoxide) + H2

Alcohols react with sodium leading to the evolution of hydrogen. With ethanol, the other
product is sodium ethoxide.

2. Reaction to give unsaturated hydrocarbon

Heating ethanol at 443 K with excess concentrated sulphuric acid results in the
dehydration of ethanol to give ethene.

The concentrated sulphuric acid can be regarded as a dehydrating agent which removes
water from ethanol.

Properties of Ethanoic Acid

Ethanoic acid is commonly called acetic acid and belongs to a group of acids called
carboxylic acids.
5-8% solution of acetic acid in water is called vinegar and is used widely as a
preservative in pickles.
The melting point of pure ethanoic acid is 290 K and hence it often freezes during
winter in cold climates. This gave rise to its name glacial acetic acid.
Carboxylic acids are weak acids.

Reactions of ethanoic acid

1. Esterification reaction: Esters are most commonly formed by reaction of an acid and an
alcohol. Ethanoic acid reacts with absolute ethanol in the presence of an acid catalyst to
give an ester.

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 Esters are sweet-smelling substances. These are used in making perfumes and as
flavouring agents.
Saponification is the process of converting esters into salts of carboxylic acids and
ethanol by treating them with a base.

2. Reaction with a base

Ethanoic acid reacts with a base to give salt and water.

NaOH + CH3COOH → CH3COONa (sodium ethanoate/sodium acetate) + H2O

3. Reaction with carbonates and hydrogen carbonates: Ethanoic acid reacts with
carbonates and hydrogen carbonates to give rise to salt, carbon dioxide, and water.

2CH3COOH + Na2CO3 → 2CH3COONa (sodium acetate) + H2O + CO2

CH3COOH + NaHCO3 → CH3COONa (sodium acetate) + H2O + CO2

Ethanol Ethanoic Acid

(Difference in Physical properties)

1. It exists only in liquid form. 1. It can exist both in liquid and solid form.

2. Functional group is alcohol. 2. Functional group is carboxylic acid.

3. It has a specific smell but not 3. It smells like vinegar.

like vinegar.

(Difference in Chemical properties)

4. Does not react with sodium 4. Reacts with sodium bicarbonate to form salt,
bicarbonate. carbon dioxide, and water.

5. No effect on litmus paper. 5. It turns blue litmus paper red.

Soaps and Detergents

Cleansing action of soaps

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Most dirt is oily in nature and oil does not dissolve in water. The molecules of soap are
sodium or potassium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids. The ionic end of soap interacts
with the water while the carbon chain interacts with oil. The soap molecules, thus form
structures called micelles where one end of the molecules is towards the oil droplet while
the ionic end faces outside. This forms an emulsion in water. The soap micelle thus helps
in pulling out the dirt in water and we can wash our clothes clean.

Soap Detergents

1. Molecules of soap are sodium or 1. Detergents are generally sodium salts of

potassium salts of long-chain sulphonic acids or ammonium salts with chloride
carboxylic acids. or bromide ions.

2. Not so effective in hard water. 2. It is effective even in hard water.

3. It forms scum in hard water. 3. Does not form scum in hard water.

4. It has poor foaming capacity. 4. It has a rich foaming capacity.

5. Soaps are biodegradable. 5. Most of the detergents are non-

biodegradable.

The soluble salts of calcium and magnesium make the water hard.
Scum is formed by the reaction of calcium or magnesium ions with soap molecules.
These ions react with soap molecules forming calcium or magnesium salts of long-
chain carboxylic acids which are insoluble and precipitate out.
Detergents are generally sodium salts of sulphonic acids or ammonium salts with
chlorides or bromides ions, etc.

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 The charged ends of these compounds do not form insoluble precipitates with the
calcium and magnesium ions in hard water. Thus, they remain effective in hard
water.

Chapter 4 Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 NCERT Underlined PDF

Must Read : Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 Important Questions with Answers
to get an idea of the different types of questions asked from this chapter.

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