Question

Give reasons for the following observations:
(a) Th element carbon forms a very large number of compounds.
(b) Air holes of a gas burner have to be adjusted when the heated vessels get blackened by the flame.
​(c) Use of synthetic detergents causes pollution of water.

Answer 1

(a) Carbon forms a large number of compounds because of the following reasons:
(i) Catenation property, i.e. self linking property of carbon to form long chains.
(ii) Small size, helps in forming double and triple bonds.
(iii) The tendency to form rings.
(iv) High valency, allows forming bonds with other atoms.

(b) Blackening of vessels is due to deposition of waste material in the holes of the burner. These depositions prevent complete combustion of fuel and create black soot. Thus, the holes of the burner need to be cleaned and unclogged to give the undisturbed flow of gas.

(c) Synthetic detergents are made up of chemical compounds like fatty acid salts (aliphatic) or aromatics like linear alkyl benzene. These are non-biodegradable compounds which cannot be degraded and result in polluting our environment.