Explain the physical nature of carbon and its compounds.
Explain the physical nature of carbon and its compounds.
The physical nature of carbon and its compounds are as follows:-
1. Carbon has the ability to form covalent bonds with other atoms of carbon giving rise to a large number of molecules through a self-linking property. This property is called catenation. Since the valency of carbon is four, it is capable of bonding with four other atoms.
2. Carbon combines with oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, chlorine and many other elements to form various stable compounds.
3. The stability of carbon compounds is due to the small size of the carbon atom which enables the nucleus to hold on to the shared pair of electrons strongly.
4. Carbon compounds show isomerism, the phenomenon by which two or more compounds have same molecular formula but different structural formula with difference in properties. i.e. the formula C2H6O represents two different compounds namely ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3).
5. Carbon compounds have low melting and boiling points because of their covalent nature.
6. The reactions shown by carbon compounds involve breaking of old bonds in the reacting molecules and the formation of new bonds in the product molecules.
7. Carbon compounds are easily combustible.
The physical nature of carbon and its compounds are as follows:-
1. Carbon has the ability to form covalent bonds with other atoms of carbon giving rise to a large number of molecules through a self-linking property. This property is called catenation. Since the valency of carbon is four, it is capable of bonding with four other atoms.
2. Carbon combines with oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, chlorine and many other elements to form various stable compounds.
3. The stability of carbon compounds is due to the small size of the carbon atom which enables the nucleus to hold on to the shared pair of electrons strongly.
4. Carbon compounds show isomerism, the phenomenon by which two or more compounds have same molecular formula but different structural formula with difference in properties. i.e. the formula C2H6O represents two different compounds namely ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3).
5. Carbon compounds have low melting and boiling points because of their covalent nature.
6. The reactions shown by carbon compounds involve breaking of old bonds in the reacting molecules and the formation of new bonds in the product molecules.
7. Carbon compounds are easily combustible.
