CARBON: PROPERTIES

AND CHARACTERISTICS
May 12th, 2018
 Carbon characteristics

Exists in multiple physical forms, even though they are chemically similar, it exists as
graphite, diamond or carbon residue left behind when carbon-based compounds
experienced heat and pressure.

It can form chains of carbon in single, double and triple bonds with other carbon atoms
(catenation).

Carbon burns in oxygen to create carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Carbon can also
form carbides when heated with oxides.

A stable carbon atom possesses six protons, six neutrons and six electrons, resulting in an
atomic mass of 12.011 and sits in the sixth position on the Periodic Table of Elements.
 Chemical properties of carbon
Chemical Formula C

Combines with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and carbon

Oxidation
monoxide (CO)

Reactivity Carbon does not dissolve in, or react with water or acids

Chains of Atoms Carbon has the ability to make long strings, or chains, of atoms

Carbon forms more compounds than all other elements combined; several
Compounds
million carbon compounds are known

Carbon also occurs in a newly discovered form known as fullerenes or

Buckminsterfulleren - C60 buckyballs. A fullerene is any molecule composed entirely of carbon. Fullerenes
are similar in structure to graphite
 Physical Properties of Carbon

Two allotropes of carbon have different crystalline structures: diamond and graphite
*Allotropic
The physical properties of carbon vary widely with the allotropic form.

Forms of Carbon Graphite, diamonds and coal are all nearly pure forms of carbon

Color Diamond is highly transparent. Graphite is opaque and black

Diamond is one of the hardest substances known to man. Graphite is soft and often
Hardness
used as the "lead" in lead pencils

Conductivity Diamond has a very low electrical conductivity. Graphite is a very good conductor

Brittleness Very brittle, and cannot be rolled into wires or pounded into sheets
Phase Solid
 Organic Compounds
Types General formula

Structural
Alkane
1. Semi-developed: is an abbreviation of the
developed formula. It indicates the bonds
between atoms of carbon and the functional
groups.

2. Developed: it indicates how atoms are bonded

Alkene

Molecular

Alkyne
1. Condensed: it indicates the class and the
number of atoms in a molecule.
Aromatic
 Organic compunds
Types Source Examples & IUPAC names Examples & common names
Petroleum, natural gas, destructive distillation Number of
Name
of Wood and coal, anaerobic Carbons
decomposition of organic matter in the 1 methane
presence of bacteria, liberates methane. 2 ethane
3 propane
4 butane Certain branched alkanes
have common names that are
5 pentane
still widely used today. These
Alkane 6 hexane common names make use of
7 heptane prefixes, such as iso-, sec-, tert-,
and neo-.
8 octane
9 nonane
10 decane
11 undecane
12 dodecane

Aromatic Coal tar and petroleum. Suffix -benzene

Organic compunds

Types Source Examples & IUPAC names Examples & common names

Terpenes, ethylene, food

Alkene containing vitamin A and β- The suffix -ene. If there is Sufix –ene
carotene. more than one double
bond, the suffix is expanded
to include a prefix that
indicates the number of
double bonds present (-
Crude oil, natural gas , plants adiene, -atriene, etc.). Triple
Alkyne and some animals, they can bonds are named in a similar Suffix –yne
also be prepared chemically. way using the suffix –
yne.
 SOURCES:

• Chemistry Assignment . (N/S). Sources of Alkanes. May 11th 2018, de Chemistry Assignment
Sitio web: http://www.chemistry-assignment.com/sources-of-alkanes
• Reference. (N/S). What Are Some Natural Sources of Alkenes?. May 11th 2018, de Reference
Sitio web: https://www.reference.com/science/natural-sources-alkenes-2f414485cfa34757
• ChemistryNote. (2017). Sources and characteristic of aromatic compounds. May 11th 2018,
de ChemistryNote Sitio web: http://www.chemistrynote.com/sources-and-characters-of-
aromatic-compounds/
• Dennis Blake. (2018). Four Characteristics of Carbon. May 11th 2018, de Sciencing Sitio web:
https://sciencing.com/four-characteristics-carbon-12004660.html