CARBON AND COMPOUNDS

The amount of carbon present in the earth’s crust and in the atmosphere is
quite meagre. The earth’s crust has only 0.02% carbon in the form of minerals
(like carbonates, hydrogencarbonates, coal and petroleum) and the atmosphere
has 0.03% of carbon dioxide.

What is a covalent bond?

A chemical bond formed between two atoms by sharing of electrons is called
covalent bond. The shared electrons belong to the valence shell of both the
atoms
Simplest covalent molecule is H2

1. If two atoms share one pair of electrons, it is called single covalent

bond.
Eg: H2 H : H H - H

2. If two atoms share two pairs of electrons, it is called double covalent bond.

.. ..
O2 : O :: O : O=O

3. If two atoms share three pairs of electrons, it is called a triple covalent bond
N2 : N : : N: N≡N

Q) Give Electron Dot structure of CH4, H2O, NH3, CO2, S8

a) H2O
H–O–H
..
H :O: H
¨
b) NH3
H H
I ..
H–N–H H : N : H
¨
c) CO2
.. ..
O=C=O :O::C::O:

d) S8

CHARACTERICTICS OF CARBON COMPOUNDS( COVALENT COMPOUND)

1. Carbon compounds are formed by sharing of electrons between atoms.
(covalent bond). So they do not form charged particles (ions). Hence, they
are poor conductors of electricity.
2. They generally have low melting point and boiling point because covalently
bonded molecules have strong bonds within the molecule but attraction
between molecules (intermolecular forces) is weak.
For e.g. Methane MP: 90 K B.P: 111 K

Ionic compounds
1. Have high melting and boiling points due to strong electrostatic force of
attraction between cations and anions.
2. They conduct electricity in solution or in the molten state due to
movement of ions to oppositely charged electrodes.

Why carbon forms large number of compounds? (Versatile nature of carbon)

Carbon forms about 3 million compounds.
This is due to the nature of the covalent bond formed by carbon which is due
to two factors.
1. Catenation: It is the unique property of carbon atoms to form long
chains, branched chains or rings through covalent bonding to its own
atoms giving rise to large molecules. The bonds may be single, double
or triple covalent bonds. I
- C – C – C – C – C –C –
 The bond between carbon atoms and most other elements are very
strong due to the small size of carbon atom. This enables the carbon
nucleus to hold on to the shared pairs of electrons strongly and provide
stability to the compound.

 No other element has this much tendency for catenation like carbon.

2. Tetra Covalency And Bonding In Carbon

 Since carbon has a valency of four, it is capable of bonding with four
other carbon atoms or atoms of some other elements like oxygen,
 hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, chlorine etc; giving rise to compounds
with specific properties.
 Again 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. his enables the nucleus to hold on to the shared pairs of
electrons strongly.

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Silicon has catenation tendency up to 7-8 atoms in its compounds with
hydrogen. But, the bonding between silicon atom is not very strong due to large
size of its atoms. Therefore these compounds are very reactive and unstable.
 But C - C bond is very strong due to small size of carbon atoms. Hence, its
compounds are stable. Therefore carbon forms large number of compounds.

Why only carbon shows catenation?

 The bond between carbon atoms are very strong due to the small size of
carbon atom. This enables the carbon nucleus to hold on to the shared
pairs of electrons strongly and provide stability to the compound.
 The bonds formed by bigger elements like silicon are weaker due to their
larger atomic size.

Allotropes of carbon
 Allotropes are different forms of an element occurring in nature.
They have similar chemical properties but different chemical properties.
 Diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon.

 Difference in allotropes is due to difference in their structure.

 In diamond, each carbon atom is bonded to four other carbon atoms

forming a rigid three-dimensional structure. It is the hardest substance,
does not conduct electricity.

In graphite, each carbon atom is bonded to three other carbon atoms in the
same plane giving a hexagonal layer structure. One of these bonds is a double-
bond.
 Therefore, graphite is smooth and slippery. Also a very good conductor of
electricity

Diamonds can be synthesised by subjecting pure carbon to very high pressure

and temperature.
Fullerenes form another class of carbon allotropes. (purest form of carbon)
The first one to be identified was C-60 which has carbon atoms arranged in the
shape of a football.