Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds: Overview, Questions, Preparation

This chapter has multiple topics listed below:

Carbon Compounds Allotropes of Carbon Carbon Dating Allylic Carbon Tetravalency of Carbon Chemical Properties of Carbon C...

Yamini Saini

Updated on Apr 27, 2021 06:19 IST

Carbon, by catenation and tetravalency, can form a huge number of compounds. Besides they can also form compounds with carbon-carbon single, double, or triple bonds. The smaller size of the carbon atom leads to a stronger attraction between the nucleus and the shared electrons forming a stable bond. This explains why the number of carbon compounds found is much greater (assumed to be more than 10 million!) than compounds of all other elements combined.

Following are the chemical properties of carbon compounds:

Table of Contents

Combustion of Carbon
Oxidation of Carbon
FAQs on Chemical properties of Carbon Compounds

Combustion of Carbon

Combustion is the process of burning a substance in the presence of excess oxygen, which usually releases high energy.

Example: Combustion of Carbon, Methane, and Ethanol

C + O2 CO2 + heat + light

2CH4 +3O2 2CO2 + 2H2O + heat + light

CH3CH2OH +3O2 2CO2 + 3H2O + heat + light

The release of excess heat makes hydrocarbons a good choice for a fuel.

Oxidation of Carbon

From Chapter 1, we know oxidation is the process of gaining oxygen or losing electrons (negative charge) or losing Hydrogen.

Example: Conversion of alcohol to Carboxylic acid in alkaline KMnO4 (oxidising agent) and heat to Carboxylic acid

CH3CH2OH alkaline KMnO4+Heat CH3COOH

Addition Reaction

The process of converting unsaturated compounds to saturated compounds by adding new elements or radicals is known as an addition reaction.

Example: Hydrogenation of animal fats under catalysts like Nickel or Palladium.

R2C=CR2 nickel or palladiumH2 R2HC–CR2H , where R is some radical.

Substitution Reaction

Any reaction where one element or radical is replaced by another is known as the substitution reaction.

Example: Conversion of alkanes to haloalkanes under the presence of sunlight

CH4 + Cl2 CH3Cl + HCl

Elimination Reaction (For class 12)

Reactions where an element or radical gets removed from a saturated compound producing an unsaturated compound, are termed elimination reactions.

Example: Elimination of Haloalkanes heated in the presence of an alcoholic solution of Potassium Hydroxide

CR2H–CR2Cl OH- CR2=CR2 + Cl- +B-H, where B is the base. (Here OH- ) and R is any radical.

Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds in Class 10

In Chapter 4- Carbon and Its Compounds, these properties are introduced and discussed in detail with examples.

Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds in Class 11

In Chapter 13- Hydrocarbons, reactions involving hydrocarbons following these properties are discussed in detail.

Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds in Class 12

Chapter 10- Haloalkanes and Haloarenes, Chapter 11- Alcohols, Phenols, and ethers, Chapter 12- Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids, and Chapter 13- Amines, the reactions involving respective organic compounds and following these properties are explained in detail.

Illustrated Examples

Name different types of chemical properties of carbon compounds

Solution:

Combustion
Oxidation
Addition Reactions
Substitution Reactions
Elimination Reactions

Identify the types of reactions.

CH3-C≡CH + Br-Br CH3CBr=CHBr

Solution: Addition Reaction

R-CH2OH + HCl R-CH3-Cl + H2O

Solution: Substitution Reaction

Complete the reaction and balance the equation.

CH3-CH3 + O2 ?

Solution: 2CH3-CH3 + 7O2 4CO2 + 6H2O + Heat + Light

FAQs on Chemical properties of Carbon Compounds

Q. What is a rearrangement reaction?

A. Often the atoms of the carbon skeleton in a molecule rearranges within the molecule to form an isomer that does not necessarily have similar properties.

Q. What is polymerisation?

A. The reaction in which a large number of monomer molecules join together to form a huge polymer molecule is known as polymerisation.

Q. What is Catenation?

A. Catenation is the ability of an atom to link with another atom to form long chains, branches, and rings.

Q. What is the difference between an oxidation agent and a catalyst?

A. Oxidising agents are those substances that are capable of adding oxygen to other substances while catalysts are substances that enhance the rate of a chemical reaction without directly involving in the reaction.

Q. Why is partial combustion of carbon compounds said to be lethal?

A. Partial combustion (combustion under limited supply of oxygen) of carbon and its compounds will lead to carbon monoxide formation (CO). CO reacts with haemoglobin to form a stable compound, hindering the latter's oxygen-carrying ability, eventually leading to death.