Ch 04 - Carbon and its Compounds10th Science
Abundance of Carbon
What is the exact percentage of carbon present in the earth's crust and atmosphere, and in what physical forms does it exist?
What is the exact percentage of carbon present in the earth's crust and atmosphere, and in what physical forms does it exist?
- Earth's Crust: Strictly 0.02%, existing purely as minerals (e.g., carbonates, hydrogen-carbonates, coal, and petroleum).
- Atmosphere: Strictly 0.03%, existing exclusively as Carbon Dioxide ().
- Significance: Despite this meagre amount, carbon forms the fundamental backbone of all living biological structures.
Prism Memory Hook
Crust has Two (0.02%), Atmosphere has Three (0.03% - CO2 for the trees).
Covalent Bonding in Carbon
Why does carbon strictly form covalent bonds by sharing electrons rather than forming ionic bonds by gaining or losing its four valence electrons?
Why does carbon strictly form covalent bonds by sharing electrons rather than forming ionic bonds by gaining or losing its four valence electrons?
- Gaining 4 electrons ( anion): It would be highly unstable and difficult for a nucleus with only 6 protons to effectively hold on to 10 electrons.
- Losing 4 electrons ( cation): It would require a massive amount of ionization energy to remove four outer electrons, leaving behind an unstable nucleus with just two electrons.
- Conclusion: Carbon overcomes these energetic barriers by sharing its valence electrons, forming strong covalent bonds.
Prism Memory Hook
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Tetravalency of Carbon
What is meant by the 'tetravalency' of carbon, and how does it contribute to the vast diversity of organic compounds?
What is meant by the 'tetravalency' of carbon, and how does it contribute to the vast diversity of organic compounds?
- Definition: Carbon has exactly four valence electrons, meaning it must form four covalent bonds to satisfy its octet state.
- Diversity: It allows a single carbon atom to simultaneously bond with four other carbon atoms, or atoms of diverse monovalent elements like Hydrogen, Halogens, Oxygen, Nitrogen, or Sulphur, creating endless structural combinations.
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Also in this chapter
39 more cards to study in Prism
- 4Properties of Covalent Compounds
- 5Catenation
- 6Diamond vs. Graphite
- 7Buckminsterfullerene
- 8Saturated vs. Unsaturated Compounds
- 9General Formulas of Hydrocarbons
- 10Cyclic Hydrocarbons
- 11Structural Isomers
- 12Structural Isomers of Pentane
- 13Heteroatoms and Functional Groups
- 14Nomenclature Suffixes
- 15Combustion of Methane
- 16Homologous Series
- 17Oxidation of Ethanol
- 18Flame Characteristics in Combustion
- 19Addition Reaction (Hydrogenation)
- 20Incomplete Combustion in Cooking
- 21Oxy-Acetylene Welding
- 22Substitution Reaction of Methane
- 23Reaction of Ethanol with Sodium
- 24Acidic Dehydration of Ethanol
- 25Health Impact of Saturated vs Unsaturated Fats
- 26Esterification Reaction
- 27Physical Properties & Uses of Ethanol
- 28Saponification Reaction
- 29Neutralisation of Ethanoic Acid
- 30Ethanoic Acid with Carbonates & Bicarbonates
- 31Denatured Alcohol
- 32Toxicology of Methanol
- 33Alcohol as a Cleaner Motor Fuel
- 34Glacial Acetic Acid
- 35Wöhler's Synthesis & Vital Force Theory
- 36Chemical Structure of Soap
- 37Micelle Formation & Cleansing Action
- 38The Bromine Water Test
- 39The Scum Problem in Hard Water
- 40Detergents vs. Soaps
- 41Formation of Coal vs. Petroleum
- 42Electron Dot Structure of Sulphur
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