Carbon compounds — Important Questions

Methane (CH₄), Ethane (C₂H₆), Propane (C₃H₈)

Saturated hydrocarbons contain only single bonds between carbon atoms. Methane, ethane, and propane are alkanes with only single bonds, while ethene has a double bond and ethyne has a triple bond.

Low melting points, Poor electrical conductivity, Covalent bonding

Carbon compounds generally have low melting points (usually below 300°C), are poor electrical conductors due to lack of free ions, and contain covalent bonds formed by sharing electrons.

Yellow sooty flame

Ethene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon with a higher carbon content. Unsaturated hydrocarbons burn with yellow sooty flames due to incomplete combustion producing carbon particles.

Dehydration

When ethanol is heated with concentrated H₂SO₄ at 170°C, a water molecule is removed (dehydration) to form ethene: CH₃CH₂OH → CH₂=CH₂ + H₂O.