, CHEMISTRY Carbon and Its Compounds
Carbon and its Compounds
Introduction
Compounds of carbon are known as organic compounds.
All organic compounds contain hydrogen along with carbon.
Since, they are the fundamental organic compounds, they are also known as hydrocarbons.
The study of carbon compounds such as hydrocarbons and its derivatives is called organic chemistry.
Bonding in Carbon
Carbon atom has four electrons in its outermost shell.
It requires four electrons to achieve the stable, 8 electron, inert gas configuration.
Carbon atoms can achieve the inert gas electron arrangement only by sharing their electrons. Hence,
carbon always forms covalent bonds.
The valency of carbon is four since one carbon requires 4 electrons to achieve the nearest inert gas
configuration. Thus, we can say that carbon is tetravalent.
The four valencies of carbon are usually represented by drawing four short lines around the symbol of
carbon (C).
Allotropes of Carbon
The various physical forms in which an element can exist are called the allotropes of that element.
Carbon has three allotropes:
o Diamond
o Graphite
o Buckminster fullerene
Diamond
In diamond, each carbon atom is bonded to four other carbon atoms, forming a three dimensional
structure.
The rigid structure of diamond makes it a very hard substance.
It is a non-conductor of electricity since there are no free electrons in a diamond crystal.
It can be synthesised by subjecting pure carbon to a very high pressure and temperature.
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Carbon and its Compounds
Introduction
Compounds of carbon are known as organic compounds.
All organic compounds contain hydrogen along with carbon.
Since, they are the fundamental organic compounds, they are also known as hydrocarbons.
The study of carbon compounds such as hydrocarbons and its derivatives is called organic chemistry.
Bonding in Carbon
Carbon atom has four electrons in its outermost shell.
It requires four electrons to achieve the stable, 8 electron, inert gas configuration.
Carbon atoms can achieve the inert gas electron arrangement only by sharing their electrons. Hence,
carbon always forms covalent bonds.
The valency of carbon is four since one carbon requires 4 electrons to achieve the nearest inert gas
configuration. Thus, we can say that carbon is tetravalent.
The four valencies of carbon are usually represented by drawing four short lines around the symbol of
carbon (C).
Allotropes of Carbon
The various physical forms in which an element can exist are called the allotropes of that element.
Carbon has three allotropes:
o Diamond
o Graphite
o Buckminster fullerene
Diamond
In diamond, each carbon atom is bonded to four other carbon atoms, forming a three dimensional
structure.
The rigid structure of diamond makes it a very hard substance.
It is a non-conductor of electricity since there are no free electrons in a diamond crystal.
It can be synthesised by subjecting pure carbon to a very high pressure and temperature.
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