CARBON AND

ITS
COMPOUND
 Organic compounds are
generally the compounds with
C-H bond.

Earlier organic and inorganic compounds were

studied together but later organic chemistry was
made as a separate branch.
Why are organic compounds studied as
a separate branch of chemistry?

Organic compounds are studied as

separate branch of chemistry because
carbon single-handedly makes more
compounds than all other elements
together.
 WHAT IS CARBON?

An element Non-metal Base of life

Atomic Number
6

Valenc
y 4
 CARBON
Earth’s crust has only 0.02%
1 carbon in the form of minerals.
.
Cotton Cellulose

Atmosphere has 0.03% carbon

2 dioxide.
. Food Our bodies

All living things are made of

3 Wood Rubber
carbon.
.
BONDING IN
CARBON
❏ Carbon has four electrons in its
outermost shell.

❏ But it neither loses them nor gains four

electrons. Instead, it shares the
valence shell.
 Why can’t carbon lose four
electrons?

Carbon has six

number of
protons and six
number of
electrons.

If carbon will lose four electrons

from the valence shell it would
require a lot of ionization energy
and it would leave six protons
holding just two electrons.
 Why carbon cannot gain four
electrons?

It could gain four

electrons forming
C4– anion. But it
would be difficult
for the nucleus
with six protons
to hold on to ten
electrons, that is,
four extra Since
electrons. carbon
atoms can achieve
the inert gas
electro
n
arrangement only
by sharing of
electrons, carbon
always form
covalent bonds.
Such bonds which are formed by the sharing
of an electron pair between two atoms are
known as covalent bonds.

Covalently bonded molecules are seen to

have strong bonds within the molecules, but
intermolecular forces are weak.

Hence, they generally have low melting or

boiling point.
Atomic no. 1 Examples of Covalent
Bond
H x x H

x
H H
x

Nitrogen Atomic no. 7

xx
N N
xx

xx
N2 molecule
 Examples of Covalent
Bond
Carbon atomic no. 6
Hydrogen atomic no. 1

H X C X H
X

H
ALLOTROPES OF
CARBON
 Allotropism is the property of some
elements to exist in two or more
different forms, in the same physical
state, known as allotropes of the
elements.

Allotropes - are the various physical

forms that an element can exist in.

Three allotropes of carbon:

1. Diamond (hardest substance,
colorless, transparent)
2. Graphite
3. Buckminsterfullerene
 Features of Diamond

● Hardest

● Does not conduct electricity

● Form CO2 when burnt in O2 presence.

● Each carbon atom is bonded to 4 other

carbon atoms forming a rigid 3D
structure.
 Features of Graphite

● Greyish black; Opaque

● Lighter than diamond

● Smooth & slippery / glides

● Each carbon atom is bonded

to three other carbon atoms in
the same plane giving a

hexagonal array.

Each carbon atom is bonded to 3 carbon atoms

in same plane (one of it is a double bond).

Graphite has delocalised electrons, just like

metals. These electrons are free to move
between the layers in graphite, so graphite can
conduct electricity.
 Features of Fullerene

● Another class of carbon allotropes.

● Dark solid at room temperature.

● Neither very hard, nor soft like graphite

● Eg., Buckminsterfullerene (C-60) football

structure. (20 hexagons + 12 pentagons
carbon atoms in one molecule).
VERSATILE NATURE OF
CARBON
The nature of the covalent bond
enables carbon to form a large number
of compounds.

Two properties of carbon are largely

responsible for its versatile nature:

1. Catenation

2. Tetravalency
The property of carbon element due to
which its atom can join with one another
to form long carbon chains is known as
catenation (self-linking).
 Silicon forms compounds with hydrogen
which have chains of upto seven or eight
atoms, but these compounds are very
reactive.

The carbon-carbon bond is very strong and

hence stable.
 When carbon
atoms combine
with one another,
three types of
chains are
formed:
TETRAVALENCY

Due to its large valency, a carbon atom can

form covalent bonds with other carbon
atoms or with even different elements
(oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur,
chlorine, etc.).

The bonds that carbon forms with

most other elements are very strong
making these compounds
exceptionally stable
ORGANIC
COMPOUNDS
 Compounds of carbon are commonly
HISTORY known as organic compound.
Initially, all the organic
matter was derived from
natural (living) things. 1. Organic compounds have low melting and
boiling points.
So, it was believed that
organic compound can only 2. Non-conductor of electricity.
be produced in living
things (Vital Force Theory- 3. Occur in all flora and fauna.
vital force is necessary)
which was proven wrong by
Friedrich Wöhler (1828), when Oxides of carbon, carbonates, carbides,
he prepared urea [Co(NH2)] hydrogencarbonate are not considered as
in the lab from an inorganic organic compounds, as they have very different
compound- Ammonium
cyanate (NH4CNO). properties from common organic compounds.

Study of organic compounds such as

hydrocarbons and their derivation is called as
organic chemistry.
Most important
Hydrocarbons
source of
hydrocarbon is
petroleum (crude oil).
Compound with ‘H’ and carbon
only.

Example: Methane (CH4) ; Ethane

(C2H4)

Types of
Hydrocarbons

Saturated

Unsaturated
 Saturated
Hydrocarbon
Methane 1 CH4

● A hydrocarbon
with only single
Ethane 2 C2H6
bonds.
● Also known as
‘Alkanes’.
Propane 3 C3H8
● General
formula-
CnH2n+2
(n= no. of carbon atoms) Butane 4
C4H10

● Not very

reactive
Prentane 5
. C5H12
 Unsaturated
Hydrocarbon
Ethane 2 C2H4

Propane 3 C3H6

Butane 4 C4H8

● A hydrocarbon with at least one double or triple

bond.

● Alkene- At least one double bond between 2 carbon

atoms.

There cannot be any alkene having only one carbon

atom.
General formula- CnH2n
Unsaturated Hydrocarbon
(Alkynes)
Ethyne 2 C2H2

Propyne 3 C3H4

Butyne 4 C4H6

● A hydrocarbon in which the two carbon atoms are

connected by a triple bond.

● There can be no alkyne having only one carbon

atom.

● General formula- CnH2n-2

● ● (n= carbon atoms in one molecule)

● Unsaturated hydrocarbons are more reactive than

saturated hydrocarbon.
 Electron Dot Structure
(Saturated and Unsaturated
Hydrocarbons)
Electron Dot Structure
(Cyclic
Hydrocarbons)
Homework : Electron Dot Structure
of Cyclopentane
 ISOMERS

Organic compounds with same

molecular formula but different
chemical and physical properties
are called isomers. This
phenomenon is called Isomerism.

These compounds have identical

molecular formula but different
structures, and are called
structural isomers.
Two structural isomers are possible
for butane (C4H10):
 FUNCTIONAL
GROUPS
❏ But carbon also forms bonds with other
elements such as halogens, oxygen, nitrogen
and sulphur.

❏ In a hydrocarbon chain, one or more hydrogens

can be replaced by these elements, such that
the valency of carbon remains satisfied.

❏ In such compounds, the element replacing

hydrogen is referred to as a heteroatom.

❏ These heteroatoms and the group containing

these confer specific properties to the
compound, regardless of the length and nature
of the carbon chain and hence are called
functional groups.
Some functional groups in carbon compounds

Free valency or valencies of the group are shown

by the single line.
 Series of compounds in which the same
functional group substitutes for hydrogen in a
carbon chain is called a Homologous Series (HS).

Compounds in a HS have similar chemical

characteristics but different physical properties.
The adjacent members differ in their molecular
formula by −CH2 (14u).
CHARACTERISTICS OF A
HOMOLOGOUS SERIES

● All members can be represented by the

same general formula.

● All compounds of a homologous series

show similar chemical properties.

● Their physical properties such as

melting point, boiling point, density,
etc., increase with increasing molecular
mass.
 NOMENCLATURE OF
CARBON COMPOUNDS
The names of compounds in a homologous
series are based on the name of the basic
carbon chain modified by a “prefix” “phrase
before” or “suffix” “phrase after” indicating
the nature of the functional group.
Naming a carbon compound can be
done by the following method –

- Count the number of atoms in main branch.

This decides the root word of the IUPAC name.

- In case a functional group is present, it is

indicated in the name of the compound with
either a prefix or a suffix.

- If the name of the functional group is to be

given as a suffix, and the suffix of the
functional group begins with a vowel a, e, i, o,
u, then the name of the carbon chain is
modified by deleting the final ‘e’ and adding
the appropriate suffix.

For example, a three-carbon chain with a

ketone group would be named in the following
manner – Propane – ‘e’ = propan + ‘one’ =
propanone.
Name the compound
Homework : Name the compound
 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
OF CARBON
COMPOUNDS
 COMBUSTION

(i) C + O2 → CO2 + heat and light

(ii) CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O + heat and light

(iii) CH3CH2OH + O2 → CO2 + H2O + heat and light

Combustion means burning of carbon or

carbon-containing compounds in the presence of
air or oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, heat and
light.
 Flame Characteristics

Saturated hydrocarbons give clean flame

while unsaturated hydrocarbons give smoky
flame. In the presence of limited oxygen, even
saturated hydrocarbons give smoky flame.
 OXIDATION

Addition of oxygen and removal of hydrogen. One

form is combustion.

Another is when alcohol can be converted to

carboxylic acid by heating them in presence of
oxidising agent such as :

1. Potassium permanganate

2. Acidified Potassium dichromate

 ADDITION REACTION

Unsaturated hydrocarbons add hydrogen in the

presence of catalysts such as palladium or nickel
to give saturated hydrocarbons.
 ADDITION REACTION

EXAMPLE : Hydrogenation of vegetable oils using

a nickel catalyst.

Vegetable oils generally have long unsaturated

carbon chains while animal fats have saturated
carbon chains.

Animal fats generally contain saturated fatty acids

which are said to be harmful for health. Oils
containing unsaturated fatty acids should be
chosen for cooking.
 SUBSTITUTION REACTION

● Saturated hydrocarbons are fairly unreactive and are

inert in the presence of most reagents.

● However, in the presence of sunlight, chlorine is added

to hydrocarbons in a very fast reaction.

CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl

ETHANOL
➔ Ethanol is a liquid at room temperature.

➔ Ethanol is commonly called alcohol and is the

active ingredient of all alcoholic drinks.

➔ In addition, because it is a good solvent, it is also

used in medicines such as tincture iodine, cough
syrups, and many tonics.

➔ Ethanol is also soluble in water in all

proportions.

➔ Consumption of small quantities of dilute ethanol

causes drunkenness.
 (i) Reaction with sodium –

Alcohols react with sodium leading to the

evolution of hydrogen. With ethanol, the
other product is sodium ethoxide.

2Na + 2CH3CH2OH → 2CH3CH2O–Na+ +

H2
(Sodium ethoxide)
 (ii) DEHYDRATION :

Heating ethanol at 443 K with excess

concentrated sulphuric acid results in the
dehydration of ethanol to give ethene –

The concentrated sulphuric

acid can be regarded as a
dehydrating agent which
removes water from ethanol.
 How do alcohols affect living beings?
● Slows down metabolic
processes and to depress
the central nervous system.

● Lack of coordination, mental

confusion, drowsiness,
lowering of the normal
inhibitions, and finally
stupor.

● Less sense of judgement,

sense of timing, and
muscular coordination have
been seriously impaired.

● Unlike ethanol, intake of

methanol in very small
quantities can cause death.
Methanol is oxidised to
methanal in the liver.
 Can we drink Methanal?

● Methanal reacts rapidly with the components

of cells.

● It coagulates the protoplasm, in much the same

way an egg is coagulated by cooking.

● Methanol also affects the optic nerve, causing

blindness. Ethanol is an important industrial
solvent.

● To prevent the misuse of ethanol produced for

industrial use, it is made unfit for drinking by
adding poisonous substances like methanol to
it.

● Dyes are also added to colour the alcohol blue

so that it can be identified easily. This is called
denatured alcohol.
 USES OF ETHANOL
● Sugarcane plants are
one of the most efficient
convertors of sunlight
into chemical energy.

● Sugarcane juice can be

used to prepare
molasses which is
fermented to give
alcohol (ethanol).

● Some countries now use

alcohol as an additive
in petrol since it is a
cleaner fuel which gives
rise to only carbon
dioxide and water on
burning in sufficient air
(oxygen).
Properties of Ethanoic Acid
 Commonly called acetic acid and belongs to a
group of acids called carboxylic acids.

5-8% solution of acetic acid in water is called vinegar

The melting point of pure ethanoic acid is 290 K

and hence it often freezes during winter in cold
climates.

This gave rise to its name glacial acetic acid.

Weaker than HCL
1. Acidity of ethanoic Acid
 2. Reaction with a base

NaOH + CH3COOH → CH3COONa + H2O

(i) Esterification reaction:

Esters are most commonly formed by reaction of

an acid and an alcohol. Ethanoic acid reacts with
absolute ethanol in the presence of an acid
catalyst to give an ester-
 Reactions of ethanoic acid:

SAPONIFICATIO
N
On treating with sodium hydroxide, which is an
alkali, the ester is converted back to alcohol and
sodium salt of carboxylic acid.

This reaction is known as saponification because

it is used in the preparation of soap.

Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long

chain carboxylic acid.
Generally, esters are
sweet-smelling substances.

These are used in making

perfumes and as flavouring agents.
On treating with sodium hydroxide,
which is an alkali, the ester is
Where are esters used?
converted back to alcohol and
sodium salt of carboxylic acid. This
reaction is known as saponification
because it is used in the
preparation of soap. Soaps are
sodium or potassium salts of long
chain carboxylic acid.
 With carbonates and hydrogen carbonates:

Ethanoic acid reacts with carbonates and hydrogen

carbonates to give rise to a salt, carbon dioxide and
water. The salt produced is commonly called sodium
acetate.

2CH3COOH + Na2CO3 → 2CH3COONa + H2O + CO2

CH3COOH + NaHCO3 → CH3COONa + H2O + CO2

SOAPS AND
DETERGENTS
 The molecules of soap are sodium or The molecules of detergents are ammonium or
potassium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids. sulphonate salts of long-chain carboxylic
acids.
Formation of micelles
 Have you ever observed while
bathing that foam is formed with
difficulty and an insoluble
substance (scum) remains after
washing with water?
This is caused by the reaction of soap with the
calcium and magnesium salts, which cause the
hardness of water.

Hence you need to use a larger amount of

soap.

This problem is overcome by using

detergents as cleansing agents.

● The charged ends of these

compounds do not form
insoluble precipitates with the
calcium and magnesium ions in
hard water.

● Thus, they remain effective in

hard water.

● Detergents are usually used to

make shampoos and
products for cleaning clothes.
 Why carbon form strong bonds?

One reason is its small size. This

enables the nucleus to hold on to the
shared pairs of electrons strongly.

The bonds formed by the elements

having bigger atoms are much weaker.
NCERT
QUESTIONS