CARBON AND ITS

COMPOUNDS

Most Important Questions

Previous Year Board
Questions

* These are the most probable questions

some of them are the most important
PYQs and some are highly likely to come
in your board exams.
What are covalent compounds?

Why are they different from ionic compounds

List three characteristic properties.
1
 - Covalent compounds are those compounds which
are formed by sharing of valence electrons
between the atoms.

- While ionic compounds are formed by the

complete transfer of electrons.

Covalent Compounds Ionic Compounds

They have weak They have strong

intermolecular forces of intermolecular forces of
attraction. attraction.

They have low melting and They have high melting and
boiling points. boiling points.

They do not conduct They conduct electricity in

electricity molten state or in aqueous
solution.
Characteristics of Covalent compounds:

- They are generally insoluble or less soluble in

water but soluble in organic solvents.

- Have low melting and boiling points.

- Generally do not conduct electricity as they

do not contain ions.
i) Elements forming ionic compounds attain Noble
gas electron configuration by either gaining or
losing electrons from their valence shells. Explain
by giving a reason why carbon can not attain such
a configuration in this manner to form its
compounds.

ii) Name the type of bonds formed in ionic

compounds and in the compound formed by
carbon.

iii) Also explain with reason why carbon are

generally poor conductor of electricity. 2
i) Ionic compounds are formed either by gaining or losing
electrons from the outermost shells, but carbon which has four
electrons in its outermost shell cannot form ionic bonds
because:

- If carbon forms ionic bonds by gaining 4 electrons- then

it would be difficult for 6 protons in the nucleus to hold 10
electrons.

- If carbon forms ionic bonds by losing 4 electrons then it

would require a lot of energy to remove these electrons
from the outermost shell.

ii) Types of bonds formed in ionic compounds are called

electrovalent bonds, and the type of bonds formed in carbon
compounds are called covalent bonds.

iii) Carbon compounds are poor conductor of electricity

because they do not have free electrons or ions.
What is meant by Isomers? Draw the structures
of two isomers of butane. C4H10. Explain why we
cannot have isomers of first three members of
alkane series.
3
- Isomers refers to the compounds which have the same
molecular formula but different structural formula, i.e.,
show different properties.

- The structures of possible Isomers of butane (C4H10)

are:

Butane Isobutane

- We can't have isomers for the first three members of

alkane because they have the same structural formula.
The first three members of alkane series are:
i) CH4 (methane) ii) C2H6 (ethane)

iii) C3H8 (propane)

Why are homologous series of carbon
compounds so called?

Write chemical formula of two consecutive

members of a homologous series and state the
part of these compounds that determines their

(i) Physical properties,

(ii) Chemical properties.
4
● A homologous series is the family of organic
compounds having the same functional group,
similar chemical properties but the consecutive
members of the series differ by a -CH2 unit or 14
mass unit.

● The two consecutive members of a homologous

series are CH3OH and C2H5OH (belong to
alcohol) - (They differ by -CH2 unit).

● i) Alkyl group determines the physical properties

of the compound.

(ii) Functional group determines their chemical

properties.
What are hydrocarbons?

Distinguish alkanes from alkenes and each of

them from alkyne, giving one example of
each.

Draw the structure of each compound cited

as example to justify your answer. 5
 - Hydrocarbons are the compounds of carbon
and hydrogen atoms.

Those hydrocarbons which contain only single

carbon-carbon bonds are called alkane
(saturated hydrocarbons) while those having
double and triple bonds are called alkenes and
alkynes respectively (saturated hydrocarbon).

Alkanes Alkenes Alkynes

General formula= General formula= General formula=

CnH2n+2 CnH2n CnH2n-2

Contain single Contain double Contain triple

bonds. C— C bonds. C C bonds. C C

E.g., methane E.g., ethene (C2H4). E.g., ethyne (C2H2).

(CH4).
 Structure

Methane Ethene

Ethyne
Give reason for the following:

i) Diamond has high melting point.

ii) Graphite is a good conductor of electricity.

6
i) In diamond, each carbon atom
is bonded to four other carbon
atoms, forming a rigid
three-dimensional structure.

This makes diamond the

hardest known substance.
Thus, it has high melting point.

ii) Graphite is the one

‘allotropic form’ of carbon.

In a graphite molecule,
one valence electron of
each carbon atom remains free.
Due to the free electrons
in its framework, graphite
can conduct electricity.
State two properties of carbon which leads to a
very large number of carbon compounds.

7
The two features of carbon that give rise to a large
number of compounds are as follows:

a) Tetravalency- The tetravalency of carbon is its

ability to form bonds with other atoms by
sharing its valence electrons. A carbon atom
forms four covalent bonds hence carbon is
said to be tetravalent, where tetra means 'four.

b) Catenation (Self-linking): The property of

carbon element due to which its atom can join
with one another to form long carbon chains.
Write the molecular formula of the following
compounds and draw their electron-dot
structure:

i) Ethane ii) Ethene

iii) Ethyne 8
i) Molecular formula of ethane is C2H6+. Its electron
dot structure is:

ii) Molecular formula of ethene is C2H4+. Its electron

dot structure is:
iii) Molecular formula of ethyne is C2H2+. Its
electron dot structure is:
Explain Isomerism. State any four
characteristics of isomers.

9
Isomerism is a phenomenon where two or more
compounds have the same chemical formula but
possesses different structural formulas and
different properties.

Characteristics of isomers are:

- They differ in structural formula.

- They differ in melting point.

- They differ in boiling point.

- They differ in solubility in same solvent.

Give the electron dot structures of the following
two compounds:

i) Propanone
ii) Propanal
10
i) Propanone
ii) Propanal
Write the name and structure of a saturated
compound in which the carbon atoms are
arranged in a ring.

Give the number of single bonds presents in this

compound. 11
Name- Cyclohexane

Single Bond- 18
a) Write the chemical formula and name of the
compound which is the active ingredient of all
alcoholic drinks.

b) List its two uses.

c) Write chemical equation and name of the

product formed when this compound reacts
with- (i) Sodium metal;
12
(ii) hot concentrated sulphuric acid
a) The compound which is the active ingredient
of all alcoholic drinks is Ethanol, and its
chemical formula is CH3CH2OH.

b) Uses-
(i) Ethanol is used in medical wipes/swabs and
antibacterial hand sanitizers.

(ii) Ethanol is also used in body lotions as

preservatives and stabilizer of its ingredients.

c) Chemical equation
1. Name a cyclic unsaturated carbon
compound?

2. Write the name of each of the following

functional groups:
—OH —C—

OH
3. What is meant by a saturated
hydrocarbon?
 ANSWERS

1. Benzene, is a cyclic unsaturated carbon compound.

2. —OH : Alcohol —C— : Ketone

OH

3. Those hydrocarbons in which valency of

carbon is satisfied by single bonds only are
called saturated hydrocarbons.
20.
(a) The modern periodic table has been evolved through the early attempts of Dobereiner,
Newland and Mendeleev. List one advantage and one limitation of all the three attempts.

(b) Name the scientist who first of all showed that atomic number of an element is a more
fundamental property than its atomic mass.

(c) State Modern periodic law.

Ans. (a) Dobereiner triad :

Advantage : The three elements of a triad were found to process similar properties.

Limitation : Some elements which are dissimilar were being grouped into a triad.

Newland’s octave : Advantage : If the elements known at that time were arranged in the
increasing order of their atomic weights, the properties of every eighth element were similar to
those of the first one. Limitation : This classification did not include elements beyond atomic
weight 40 (calcium) Mendeleev : Advantage : The physical and chemical properties of
elements are periodic function of their atomic weights. Limitation : Position of rare earths was
not clear. They were placed in group III A. (b) Mendeleev (c) The modern periodic law can be
stated as physical and chemical properties of the elements are periodic functions of their
atomic numbers.