Carbon and Its Compounds notes

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CLASS 10 • SCIENCE • NEXT UNIT

Carbon & Its Compounds

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📖 Chapter Roadmap

1. Carbon and Its Importance 2. Covalent Bonding 3. Versatile Nature of Carbon 4. Hydrocarbons 5. Homologous Series 6. Functional Groups 7. Nomenclature 8. Chemical Properties 9. Ethanol 10. Ethanoic Acid 11. Soaps and Detergents 12. Quick Comparison 13. Important Questions 14. Final Revision

Study rule: Learn the structures and definitions first. Then practise functional groups, reactions and equations. Finally revise soap and detergent cleansing action.

1. Carbon and Its Importance

Why is carbon special? Carbon forms a very large number of compounds because it has four valence electrons and can form strong bonds with carbon and many other elements.

Electronic Configuration

Carbon has atomic number 6. Its electronic configuration is 2, 4. It has four electrons in its outermost shell.

Tetravalency

Carbon has valency 4. It can form four covalent bonds with other atoms. This property is called tetravalency.

Catenation

Carbon atoms can join with other carbon atoms to form long chains, branched chains and rings. This self-linking property is called catenation.

Board point: The two main reasons for the huge number of carbon compounds are tetravalency and catenation.

2. Covalent Bonding

What is a Covalent Bond?

A covalent bond is formed when atoms share electrons with each other.

Why does Carbon Form Covalent Bonds?

1. Step 1: Carbon has four valence electrons.
2. Step 2: Losing or gaining four electrons requires a large amount of energy.
3. Step 3: Carbon therefore completes its outer shell mainly by sharing electrons.

Formation of Methane

In methane, carbon shares one electron with each of four hydrogen atoms and forms four C—H covalent bonds.

\[CH_4\]

Properties of Covalent Compounds

• Generally have low melting and boiling points compared with ionic compounds.
• Generally do not conduct electricity because they do not have free ions.
• Many are insoluble or only slightly soluble in water.

3. Versatile Nature of Carbon

Single, Double and Triple Bonds

Carbon can form single, double and triple bonds. This gives carbon compounds many different structures.

Compound	Formula	Carbon-carbon bond
Ethane	C₂H₆	C—C single bond
Ethene	C₂H₄	C=C double bond
Ethyne	C₂H₂	C≡C triple bond

Isomerism

Compounds having the same molecular formula but different structures are called isomers.

Example: C₄H₁₀ has two structures: butane and 2-methylpropane.

4. Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are compounds made only of carbon and hydrogen.

Saturated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons containing only single carbon-carbon bonds are called saturated hydrocarbons. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons.

General formula of alkanes: CₙH₂ₙ₊₂

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons containing double or triple bonds are called unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Family	Bond	General Formula	Example
Alkanes	Single	CₙH₂ₙ₊₂	Ethane C₂H₆
Alkenes	Double	CₙH₂ₙ	Ethene C₂H₄
Alkynes	Triple	CₙH₂ₙ₋₂	Ethyne C₂H₂

5. Homologous Series

A homologous series is a group of organic compounds with the same functional group and similar chemical properties, where two successive members differ by —CH₂—.

Main Features

• Same functional group.
• Similar chemical properties.
• Same general formula.
• Successive members differ by CH₂.
• Molecular mass of successive members differs by 14 u.

\[CH_4\rightarrow C_2H_6\rightarrow C_3H_8\rightarrow C_4H_{10}\]

Easy memory: One extra CH₂ is added to get the next member of the same homologous series.

6. Functional Groups

An atom or group of atoms that gives a characteristic chemical property to an organic compound is called a functional group.

Functional group	Class	Example
—OH	Alcohol	Ethanol, C₂H₅OH
—CHO	Aldehyde	Ethanal, CH₃CHO
>C=O	Ketone	Propanone, CH₃COCH₃
—COOH	Carboxylic acid	Ethanoic acid, CH₃COOH
—Cl	Halo compound	Chloroethane, C₂H₅Cl

Why Functional Groups Matter

Changing the functional group can change the chemical properties of a carbon compound even when the carbon chain is similar.

7. Nomenclature of Carbon Compounds

Carbon Chain Prefixes

Number of carbon atoms	Prefix	Example
1	Meth-	Methane
2	Eth-	Ethane
3	Prop-	Propane
4	But-	Butane
5	Pent-	Pentane

Basic Naming Idea

1. Step 1: Select the longest carbon chain.
2. Step 2: Identify the type of carbon-carbon bond or important functional group.
3. Step 3: Use the correct prefix and suffix to form the name.

Example: CH₃CH₂OH has two carbon atoms and an —OH group, so its name is ethanol.

8. Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds

1. Combustion

Carbon compounds generally burn in oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, heat and light.

\[CH_4+2O_2\rightarrow CO_2+2H_2O+\text{heat}\]

2. Oxidation

Oxidation may involve addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen. Ethanol can be oxidised to ethanoic acid.

\[CH_3CH_2OH+2[O]\rightarrow CH_3COOH+H_2O\]

3. Addition Reaction

Unsaturated compounds can add hydrogen or other substances across a multiple bond.

\[CH_2=CH_2+H_2\xrightarrow{Ni}CH_3-CH_3\]

4. Substitution Reaction

Saturated hydrocarbons can undergo substitution reactions. For example, methane reacts with chlorine in sunlight.

\[CH_4+Cl_2\xrightarrow{sunlight}CH_3Cl+HCl\]

Board focus: Learn combustion, oxidation, addition and substitution with one balanced equation for each.

9. Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcohol with formula C₂H₅OH. It contains the —OH functional group.

Reaction with Sodium

\[2C_2H_5OH+2Na\rightarrow2C_2H_5ONa+H_2\uparrow\]

Hydrogen gas is released in this reaction.

Oxidation of Ethanol

\[CH_3CH_2OH+2[O]\rightarrow CH_3COOH+H_2O\]

Uses

• Used as a solvent.
• Used in some medicines, perfumes and industrial products.
• Used as a fuel or fuel component in suitable applications.

Safety: Ethanol is highly flammable. Do not treat laboratory or industrial ethanol as a drinking product.

10. Ethanoic Acid

Ethanoic acid is a carboxylic acid with formula CH₃COOH. Its dilute aqueous solution is commonly called vinegar.

Properties

• It has a sour taste and acidic properties.
• It turns blue litmus red.
• It has a characteristic vinegar-like smell.

Reaction with Sodium Hydrogencarbonate

\[CH_3COOH+NaHCO_3\rightarrow CH_3COONa+H_2O+CO_2\uparrow\]

Esterification

Ethanoic acid reacts with ethanol in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid to form an ester and water.

\[CH_3COOH+C_2H_5OH\rightleftharpoons CH_3COOC_2H_5+H_2O\]

The ester formed is ethyl ethanoate, which has a pleasant fruity smell.

Saponification

Alkaline hydrolysis of an ester gives an alcohol and the salt of a carboxylic acid. This reaction is important in soap manufacture.

11. Soaps and Detergents

Soap

Soap is generally the sodium or potassium salt of a long-chain fatty acid.

Structure of a Soap Molecule

Hydrophilic head

Water-loving ionic part. It remains attracted to water.

Hydrophobic tail

Water-repelling hydrocarbon part. It is attracted to oil and grease.

How Does Soap Clean?

1. Step 1: The hydrophobic tail goes into oily dirt.
2. Step 2: Soap molecules surround the grease and form a micelle.
3. Step 3: The hydrophilic heads remain in water.
4. Step 4: Rinsing with water carries the dirt away.

Soap and Hard Water

Calcium and magnesium ions in hard water react with soap and form an insoluble substance called scum. This reduces cleaning efficiency.

Detergents

Detergents generally work better in hard water because they do not form the same insoluble scum with calcium and magnesium ions.

12. Carbon and Its Compounds: Quick Comparison

Topic	Key Point	Example
Tetravalency	Carbon forms four covalent bonds.	CH₄
Catenation	Carbon joins with carbon to form chains and rings.	Long carbon chains
Alkane	Saturated hydrocarbon	C₂H₆
Alkene	Contains a double bond	C₂H₄
Alkyne	Contains a triple bond	C₂H₂
Ethanol	Alcohol containing —OH	C₂H₅OH
Ethanoic acid	Carboxylic acid containing —COOH	CH₃COOH
Soap	Cleans by micelle formation	Fatty acid salt

↔ Swipe left/right on the table on a small screen

Saturated vs Unsaturated

Feature	Saturated	Unsaturated
Bond	Only single C—C bonds	Double and/or triple C—C bond
Examples	Ethane, propane	Ethene, ethyne
Common reaction	Substitution	Addition

13. Class 10 Carbon and Its Compounds Important Questions

Very Short Answer Questions

1. What is catenation?
The ability of carbon atoms to bond with one another and form chains, branches and rings.

2. What is tetravalency?
The ability of carbon to form four covalent bonds.

3. What is a homologous series?
A family of organic compounds with the same functional group and similar chemical properties, where successive members differ by CH₂.

4. What is the formula of ethanol?
C₂H₅OH.

5. What is the formula of ethanoic acid?
CH₃COOH.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does carbon form covalent compounds?
2. Explain tetravalency and catenation.
3. Differentiate between saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons.
4. Explain the formation of methane.
5. Write the combustion reaction of methane.
6. Explain addition and substitution reactions with examples.
7. Explain esterification.
8. Why do soaps not work well in hard water?

Long Answer Questions

1. Explain why carbon forms a very large number of compounds.
2. Describe the important chemical properties of carbon compounds with equations.
3. Explain the cleansing action of soap with micelle formation.
4. Write the properties and important reactions of ethanol and ethanoic acid.

14. ⭐ Final Board Exam Revision

Must Learn Definitions

• Tetravalency
• Catenation
• Covalent bond
• Hydrocarbon
• Saturated and unsaturated compounds
• Homologous series
• Functional group
• Esterification
• Saponification
• Micelle

Must Learn Equations

\[CH_4+2O_2\rightarrow CO_2+2H_2O\]

\[CH_3CH_2OH+2[O]\rightarrow CH_3COOH+H_2O\]

\[CH_2=CH_2+H_2\xrightarrow{Ni}CH_3CH_3\]

\[CH_4+Cl_2\xrightarrow{sunlight}CH_3Cl+HCl\]

\[CH_3COOH+NaHCO_3\rightarrow CH_3COONa+H_2O+CO_2\]

\[CH_3COOH+C_2H_5OH\rightleftharpoons CH_3COOC_2H_5+H_2O\]

⚠ Common Mistakes

• Do not confuse tetravalency with catenation.
• Do not confuse ethane, ethene and ethyne.
• Remember alcohol has —OH while carboxylic acid has —COOH.
• Do not forget the catalyst/condition in addition and substitution examples.
• Remember soap forms scum with Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in hard water.

📝 Last-Minute Checklist

• ☐ Tetravalency
• ☐ Catenation
• ☐ Covalent bonding
• ☐ Hydrocarbons
• ☐ Homologous series
• ☐ Functional groups
• ☐ Nomenclature
• ☐ Chemical reactions
• ☐ Ethanol
• ☐ Ethanoic acid
• ☐ Esterification
• ☐ Soaps and detergents
• ☐ Micelle formation

🎯 Exam method: For a 3-mark answer, write definition + equation/example + explanation. Draw structures neatly wherever asked.

✍ Practice Corner

Try these yourself before checking your textbook:

1. Why does carbon form a large number of compounds?
2. Explain tetravalency and catenation.
3. What is a covalent bond?
4. Write the formulae of ethane, ethene and ethyne.
5. What is a homologous series?
6. Identify the functional groups in ethanol and ethanoic acid.
7. Write the combustion equation of methane.
8. Explain esterification with an equation.
9. What happens when ethanoic acid reacts with sodium hydrogencarbonate?
10. Explain the cleansing action of soap.
11. Why are detergents better than soaps in hard water?

Answer-writing tip: Keep board answers simple: definition → reason → equation/example. Use correct formulae and balanced equations.

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✍ Class 10 Science • Carbon and Its Compounds
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