Carbon Compounds Overview

Overview

This lecture covers the fundamentals of carbon compounds, including their properties, classification, bonding nature, functional groups, nomenclature, and important chemical reactions.

Importance and Occurrence of Carbon Compounds

• Carbon compounds are found in everyday items like toothpaste, medicines, clothes, and food.
• Earth's crust contains 0.02% carbon; atmosphere contains 0.3% CO₂.

Differences Between Ionic and Carbon Compounds

• Carbon compounds are poor conductors of electricity; ionic compounds are good conductors.
• Carbon compounds have lower melting/boiling points compared to ionic compounds.
• Carbon compounds are formed by covalent bonding; ionic compounds are formed by ionic bonding.

Bonding in Carbon Compounds

• Carbon has valency 4; cannot gain or lose 4 electrons easily.
• Forms covalent bonds by sharing electrons with other atoms.
• Examples: Hydrogen forms single bond, Oxygen forms double bond, Nitrogen forms triple bond.

Versatile Nature of Carbon

• Catenation: Ability to form long chains, branched, and ring structures by bonding with itself.
• Valency: Can form strong bonds with four other atoms or elements (O, H, N, etc.), leading to many stable compounds.

Types of Carbon Compounds

• Saturated compounds: Only have single bonds (alkanes).
• Unsaturated compounds: Have double/triple bonds (alkenes, alkynes); more reactive.
• Structural isomers: Compounds with same molecular formula but different structures.
• Cyclic compounds: Carbon rings (e.g., benzene).

Functional Groups and Homologous Series

• Functional groups: Specific atoms or groups that replace hydrogen in hydrocarbons (e.g., -Cl, -OH, -CHO).
• Homologous series: Family of compounds with same functional group and chemical properties, differing by CH₂ units.

Nomenclature of Carbon Compounds

• Name is based on number of carbons (prefix), type of bonds (single, double, triple), and functional group (suffix).
• Example: Methane (one C, single bond), Propanol (three C, alcohol group).

Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds

• Combustion: Carbon compounds burn in oxygen to form CO₂, releasing heat and light.
• Oxidation: Alcohols oxidized to acids using agents like KMnO₄.
• Addition reaction: Unsaturated fats can be converted to saturated by adding hydrogen (hydrogenation).
• Substitution reaction: Chlorine replaces hydrogen in hydrocarbons under sunlight.

Important Carbon Compounds

• Ethanol: Liquid alcohol, solvent, fuel additive, present in alcoholic beverages.
• Ethanoic acid (acetic acid): Weak acid, used in vinegar, food preservation.
• Esters: Formed by reaction of acid and alcohol; used in perfumes/flavorings.
• Soap and Detergents: Soaps are sodium/potassium salts of carboxylic acids; clean oily dirt via micelle formation.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Catenation — Carbon’s ability to bond with itself in chains or rings.
• Isomer — Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures.
• Functional group — Atom/group replacing hydrogen, determining compound’s properties.
• Homologous series — Series of compounds with same functional group, differing by CH₂.
• Saturated compound — Carbon compound with only single bonds.
• Unsaturated compound — Carbon compound with double or triple bonds.
• Oxidizing agent — Substance that adds oxygen to another substance.
• Micelle — Structure formed by soap molecules, helping to clean oily dirt.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Study examples of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons.
• Practice drawing structural formulas and identifying functional groups.
• Review nomenclature rules and practice naming compounds.
• Complete assigned homework on carbon compound reactions.