Carbon and Its Compounds Quiz

Carbon and Its Compounds

• Carbon, atomic number 6, electronic configuration (2, 4), forms covalent bonds. Its versatility results in numerous compounds.

Covalent Bonding

• Carbon forms single, double, and triple bonds. Examples include methane ((CH_4)), ethene ((C_2H_4)), and ethyne ((C_2H_2)).

Allotropes of Carbon

• Diamond: Extremely hard, non-conductor. Used in cutting tools.
• Graphite: Conducts electricity, slippery. Used in pencils and lubricants.
• Fullerenes: Spherical carbon molecules like (C_{60}).

Hydrocarbons

• Compounds of carbon and hydrogen. Types include:
  • Alkanes: Single bonds, general formula (C_nH_{2n+2}).
  • Alkenes: One double bond, general formula (C_nH_{2n}).
  • Alkynes: One triple bond, general formula (C_nH_{2n-2}).

Functional Groups

• Specific groups of atoms defining organic compound properties:
  • Alcohol: (-OH)
  • Aldehyde: (-CHO)
  • Ketone: ( >C=O )
  • Carboxylic Acid: (-COOH)

Homologous Series

• Series of compounds with the same functional group, similar properties, and consecutive members differing by a (CH_2) group.

Chemical Properties

• Combustion: Carbon compounds burn releasing (CO_2), water, heat, and light. Example: (CH_4 + 2O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + 2H_2O + \text{energy}).
• Oxidation: Alcohols can be oxidized to acids (e.g., using (KMnO_4) or (K_2Cr_2O_7))
• Addition Reactions: Unsaturated hydrocarbons can add hydrogen in the presence of catalysts (e.g., (C_2H_4 + H_2 \xrightarrow{\text{Ni}} C_2H_6)).
• Substitution Reactions: In saturated hydrocarbons, an atom is replaced by another (e.g., (CH_4 + Cl_2 \xrightarrow{\text{sunlight}} CH_3Cl + HCl)).

Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid

• Ethanol ((C_2H_5OH)): Liquid, soluble in water, neutral to litmus. Used as a solvent, fuel, and in alcoholic beverages. Reacts with sodium to produce sodium ethoxide and hydrogen ((2C_2H_5OH + 2Na \rightarrow 2C_2H_5ONa + H_2)).

• Ethanoic Acid ((CH_3COOH)): Sour taste, forms vinegar (5-8%). Reacts with sodium bicarbonate to produce sodium acetate, water, and carbon dioxide ((CH_3COOH + NaHCO_3 \rightarrow CH_3COONa + H_2O + CO_2)). Also undergoes esterification with ethanol in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid.

Soaps and Detergents

• Soaps: Sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids, forming micelles to trap dirt and oil.
• Detergents: Synthetic cleaning agents effective even in hard water.

Environmental Impact

• Burning carbon compounds releases greenhouse gases (e.g., (CO_2)), contributing to global warming. Proper disposal of synthetic carbon compounds is crucial to minimize pollution.