Carbon has an atomic number of 6 and a valency of ±4. It exists in several allotropes including diamond, graphite, and buckminsterfullerene. Carbon has the unique property of catenation where it can combine with its own atoms. It forms single, double, and triple covalent bonds and is tetravalent. Alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes are the three types of carbon compounds based on single, double, and triple bonds respectively.

1. Carbon
By Karishma Mili Dhiman

2. Carbon…
• Atomic no. is 6
• E.C. is 2,4
Tetravalence is the
• Valency is ±4 state of an atom with
four electrons
• Tetravalent in nature available for covalent
chemical bonding in
its valence

3. Some important terms
• Catenation: If an element is able to combine
with its own atom to make a larger compound
OR
It has self combining capacity
• Allotrops: The independent existence of an
element in more than one form

4. Covalent Bonds
• Bond formed by sharing of electron
• Do not conduct electricity
• Low boiling and melting point
• Carbon makes three types of bonds
– Single bond
– Double bond
– Triple bond

5. Single bond
H
ELECTRON DOT STRUCTURE
H C H
H

6. Table of alkane
No. of carbon Formula Prefix Suffix Name
atoms
1 Meth Ane Methane
2 Eth Ane Ethane
3 Prop Ane Propane
4 But Ane Butane
5 Pent Ane Pentane
6 Hex Ane Hexane
7 Hept Ane Heptane
8 Oct Ane Octane
9 Non Ane Nonane
10 Deca Ane Deca-ane

7. Double bond
H H
H C=C H

8. No. of carbon Formula Prefix Suffix Name
atoms
2 Eth Ene Ethene
3 Prop Ene Propene
4 But Ene Butene
5 Pent Ene Pentene
6 Hex Ene Hexene
7 Hept Ene Heptene
8 Oct Ene Octene
9 Non Ene Nonene
10 Deca Ene Deca-ene

9. Triple bond
H H
C

10. No. of carbon Formula Prefix Suffix Name
atoms
2 Eth Yne Ethyne
3 Prop Yne Propyne
4 But Yne Butyne
5 Pent Yne Pentyne
6 Hex Yne Hexyne
7 Hept Yne Heptyne
8 Oct Yne Octyne
9 Non Yne Nonyne
10 Deca Yne Deca-yne

11. Diamond Graphite Buckminster
fullerne
Colour Colourless Steel black to grey Black
Hardness Hardest Softer than Softer than
diamond diamond
Electricity Insulator Conductor Semi-Conductor
conductivity