CARBON

The element of life

OBJECTIVES
Explain how the structure of the carbon atom affects
the type of bonds it forms
Recognize the general classes and uses of organic
compounds
 Carbon
Present in all living things
Form organic compounds with many other
atoms
Basic component of organic compounds
Organic Compounds
•All contain the element carbon
•Carbon is the most common element
present in all biodegradable materials
•Carbon has a unique ability to bond
elements together and form long chains
and rings
Carbon atom

C
Carbon | Octet Rule
• A stable molecule results when a valence shell of eight
electrons has been achieved for all atoms in a molecule.
Carbon | Electron sharing
• Occurs when two atoms approach and their atomic orbitals overlap

Single Bond Double Bond Triple Bond

Types of Carbon Compounds
Hydrocarbons

Saturated unsaturated

Alkanes Alkenes Alkynes

International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry (IUPAC)
Type of Bond Carbon Compound Class of Hydrocarbon Suffix

Single Saturated Hydrocarbon Alkane -ane

Double Alkene -ene

Unsaturated
Hydrocarbon
Triple Alkyne -yne
International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry (IUPAC)
No. of Carbon Atoms Prefix No. of Carbon Atoms Prefix

1 Meth- 6 Hex-

2 Eth- 7 Hept-

3 Pro- 8 Oct-

4 But- 9 Non-

5 Pent- 10 Dec-
International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry (IUPAC)
No. of Carbon Prefix Suffix Prefix + Suffix
Atoms
2 Eth- -ane Ethane

3 Prop- -ene Propene

4 But- -yne Butyne

Carbon | Alkanes

General Formula: CnH2n+2

Contain only single bonds
Carbon | Alkenes
• Contain one or more double bonds
• Contain less hydrogen atoms bonded to the carbon
atoms
• General formula: CnH2n
Carbon | Alkynes

•Contain one or more triple bonds

•General formula: CnH2n-2
Wrap up!

What is the most common

element in an organic
compound?
Wrap up!

True or False

All organic compounds contain

the element carbon.
Wrap up!

What makes carbon unique

from the other elements?
Wrap up!

What are the two types of

hydrocarbons?
Wrap up!

What are the two types of

hydrocarbons?
Wrap up!

Why carbon has been so

called “The Element of Life”