Carbon and its Compounds Formula: Nature and Nomenclature

Carbon and its compounds are the building blocks of living and several non-living things. They are everywhere, from the phone screen to the pencil lead. Carbon, a member of the 14th Group, has an atomic number of 6 and is the seventeenth most abundant element found on the earth. The hardest substance on the earth, Diamond, is also an allotrope of carbon.

Key Terms: Single Bond, Double Bonds, Triple Bonds, Tetravalency, Saturated, Unsaturated, Nomenclature, Valency, Allotropes

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Versatile Nature of Carbon

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The nature of the covalent bond helps the carbon form more compounds. Two factors are important in the case of carbon:

1. Carbon has the ability to form bonds by merging with other atoms of carbon to produce a large number of molecules. This property is called catenation. These compounds have long chains of carbon, branched-chain of carbon, and carbon atoms arranged in form of rings.
2. Carbon compounds that are connected by single bonds between the carbon atoms are called saturated compounds. Carbon compounds that have two or more bonds between their carbon atoms are called unsaturated compounds. Silicon makes up of compounds with hydrogen that have chains of nearly seven or eight atoms, these compounds are highly reactive. The carbon-carbon bond is very strong and rigid. This gives rise to a more number of compounds with many carbon atoms connected.
3. Carbon has a valency of 4, so it is capable of connecting with four other atoms of carbon or other elements. The reason for the formation of stable bonds by carbon is because of its small size. This allows the nucleus to hold on to the connected pairs of electrons. The bonds which are formed by elements of bigger atoms are much weaker.

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Saturated and Unsaturated Carbon Compounds

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A compound formed between carbon and hydrogen is ethane. To derive the structure of simple carbon compounds, the first thing is to link the carbon atoms together with a single bond and then use the hydrogen atoms to satisfy the other valencies of carbon. Carbon compounds whose valency of atoms is satisfied by single bonds are called saturated compounds. These compounds are not very reactive. Carbon compounds that are having double or triple bonds between the carbon atoms are known as unsaturated carbon compounds and they are more reactive than saturated carbon compounds.

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The formula of Functional Groups

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The formula of various functional groups along with their names and compound are given below-

Also Read: Valence Electrons

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Nomenclature of Carbon Compounds

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The compound names in a homologous series are based upon the name of the basic carbon chain modified by a prefix or suffix indicating the nature of the functional group. For example, the names of the alcohols are methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol. Naming a carbon compound could be done by the following tips:

1. Firstly identify the number of carbon atoms present in the compound. A compound that has three carbon atoms would have the name propane.
2. If a functional group is present, it is mentioned in the name of the compound with either a prefix or a suffix.
3. A three-carbon bond chain with a ketone group would be named Propane ‘e’ = propane + ‘one’ = Propanone.
4. If the carbon chain is unsaturated, the last ‘ane’ in the name of the carbon chain is substituted by ‘ene’ or ‘yne’.

For example, a three-carbon chain with a double bond would be called Propene and if it has a triple bond, it is called Propyne.

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Things to Remember

1. Carbon is tetravalent which means it has a valency of 4.
2. Carbon compounds whose valency of atoms is satisfied by single bonds are called saturated compounds.
3. Carbon compounds that are having double or triple bonds between the carbon atoms are known as unsaturated carbon compounds.
4. Unsaturated compounds are more reactive than saturated ones. 
5. Carbon-carbon bond is very strong and rigid. 

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Sample Questions

Ques: While cooking, if the bottom of the vessel is getting blackened on the outside, what does it mean? (1 mark)

Ques: How does a cation is formed? (2 marks)

Ques: Which of the following compounds of carbon does not consist of ions? (2 marks)
(a) CHCl₃
(b) CaCO₃
(c) NaHCO₃
(d) Ca₂C

Ques: What is the property of self-linkage among identical atoms to form long-chain compounds called? (2 marks)

Ques: Which of the following is the major constituent of liquefied petroleum gas? (1 mark)
(a) Methane
(b) Ethane
(c) Propane
(d) Butane

Ques: How an ester is formed? (2 marks)

Ques: Differentiate between saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. (2 marks)

Ques: Which of the following substance produces brisk effervescence with baking soda solution? (1 mark)
(a)Ethanoic acid
(b)Table salt
(c)Vinegar
(d)Sunflower oil

Ques: Why does carbon forms a large number of compounds? (2 marks)

Ques: Name two allotropes of carbon. (1 mark)

Ques: Name the hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH₃CH₂CH₂OH. (2 marks)

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