Question

Answer the following questions.

(a) What is meant by allotrope? Which are the allotropes of carbon?

(b) How is carbon dioxide gas produced in the laboratory?

(c) Why is graphite used as a lubricant?

(d) How is charcoal made?

Answer 1

(a) Allotrope: Allotropes are the different forms of an element having different physical properties.

For example, carbon exists in both crystalline and amorphous forms.

Crystalline forms: Diamond, graphite and fullerene

Amorphous forms: Coke, sugar charcoal, wood charcoal and charcoal

(b) Production of carbon dioxide gas in the laboratory:

Carbon dioxide gas is produced in the laboratory by reacting hydrochloric acid with a carbonated metal (mainly calcium carbonate).

(c) Graphite is made up of layers which can slip over one another, thus creating the lubricating effect.

(d) Charcoal is produced when substances of plant origin such as wood are burnt in insufficient supply of oxygen.