Carbon and its Compounds

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Carbon (atomic number 6) has configuration 2,4 with 4 valence electrons. To achieve noble gas configuration, it would need to gain 4 electrons (forming C⁴⁻) or lose 4 electrons (forming C⁴⁺). Both req…

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Ionic compounds: High melting/boiling points (e.g., NaCl = 1074 K), conduct electricity when molten, strong electrostatic forces between ions. Covalent compounds: Low melting/boiling points (e.g., met…

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H₂ structure: H:H (two dots between H atoms represent shared electron pair). Each hydrogen atom contributes 1 electron; the pair is shared so each atom achieves helium's electron configuration (2 elec…

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Single bond: 1 shared pair of electrons (e.g., H-H, C-H in methane CH₄). Double bond: 2 shared pairs of electrons (e.g., O=O in oxygen, C=C in ethene C₂H₄). Triple bond: 3 shared pairs of electrons (e…

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Catenation is carbon's ability to form long chains with other carbon atoms through strong C-C bonds. Reasons: (1) Carbon-carbon bonds are very strong due to carbon's small size, allowing effective orb…

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Saturated hydrocarbons: Contain only single bonds between carbon atoms (alkanes, formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂). Examples: CH₄ (methane), C₂H₆ (ethane), C₃H₈ (propane). These are less reactive and burn with clean b…

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(a) CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O (Methane burns completely in sufficient oxygen). (b) C₂H₅OH + 3O₂ → 2CO₂ + 3H₂O (Ethanol requires 3 molecules of O₂). Both release heat and light. If oxygen is limited, inco…

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Addition reaction: C₂H₄ + H₂ → C₂H₆ (ethene becomes ethane). The double bond breaks, and hydrogen atoms add across it, creating a saturated hydrocarbon. Requirements: catalyst (Ni or Pd) and heat. Ind…