Carbon and compounds notes 2
Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds:
1. Combustion:
• The complete combustion of carbon compounds in the air gives carbon dioxide water,
heat and light.
CH3CH2OH(l) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(l) + Heat and light
• Carbon burns in air or oxygen to give carbon dioxide and heat and light.
C(s) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + Heat and light
• Saturated hydrocarbons burn with a blue flame in the presence of a sufficient supply of
air or oxygen.
CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(l) + Heat and light
• In presence of limited supply of air, saturated hydrocarbon forms a sooty flame.
• Unsaturated hydrocarbons burn with a yellow smoky flame.
• The gas and kerosene stove used at home has inlet for air so that, burnt to given clean
blue flame.
Due to presence of small amount of nitrogen and sulphur, coal and petroleum produces
carbon dioxide with oxides of nitrogen and sulphur which are major pollutant.
2. Oxidation: Oxidation of ethanol in presence of oxidizing agents gives ethanoic acid.
Oxidizing Agent: Some substances are capable of adding oxygen to others, are known as
Oxidising Agent.
Example: Alkaline KMnO4 (or KMnO4—KOH)
Acidified K2Cr2O7 (or K2Cr2O7—H2SO4)
KMnO4 – Potassium permanganate
K2Cr2O7 – Potassium dichromate
3. Addition Reaction: Addition of dihydrogen with unsaturated hydrocarbon in the
presence of catalysts such as nickel or platinum or palladium are known as Hydrogenation
(addition) reaction.
Catalyst: Substances that cause a reaction to occur or proceeds to different rate without
consuming in it are called a catalyst. For example; Ni, Pt, Pd, etc.
[Link] Reaction: Replacement of one or more hydrogen atom of an organic molecule
by another atom or group of the atom is known as Substitution Reaction.
CH4+Cl2+Sunlight → CH3Cl+HCl
Ethanol
(i) Ethanol, C2H5OH is a colourless liquid having a pleasant smell.
(ii) It boils at 351 K.
(iii) It is miscible with water in all proportions.
(iv) It is a nonconductor of electricity (it does not contain ions)
(v) It is neutral to litmus.
Uses:
1. As an antifreeze in radiators of vehicles in cold countries.
2. As a solvent in the manufacture of paints, dyes, medicines, soaps and synthetic rubber.
3. As a solvent to prepare the tincture of iodine.
Effect of Alcohol on Human Beings
• Chemically the term alcohol refers to a group of organic compounds, having
• -OH group in their composition.
• But the word alcohol used by the common man refers to ethyl alcohol or ethanol.
• It has a variety of uses, especially as a solvent. But by far the greatest use of alcohol is in
the form of alcoholic beverages, such as wine, beer, rum, brandy, whisky [Link] large
amounts, it affects the nervous system.
• On consumption of alcohol the, person experiences loss of control over muscles and loses
sense of balance and mental ability.
• If consumed over a period of time, alcohol can ruin one's health especially the liver.
• Long term consumption can be fatal.
Methylated Spirit or Denatured Alcohol
• Alcoholic drinks are heavily taxed by the government, so as to discourage people from
over consuming it.
• Alcohol used for industrial and surgical purposes is not taxed heavily.
• In order to prevent people form buying and consuming this alcohol, ethyl alcohol is
mixed with a certain percentage of highly poisonous methyl alcohol or methanol.
• This renders the ethyl alcohol unfit for human consumption. This mixture is called
"Methylated Spirit".
• Methanol damages the optic nerves and can cause to blindness.
• If chemicals like copper sulphate or pyridine are added to ethyl alcohol it is called
'denatured alcohol'.
• Both, methylated spirit and denatured alcohol are toxic if consumed.
Reactions of Ethanol with Sodium
Ethanol reacts with sodium to produce hydrogen gas and sodium ethoxide. This reaction
supports the acidic character of ethanol.
2C2H5OH+2Na → 2C2H5ONa+H2(↑)
Elimination Reaction
An elimination reaction is a type of reaction in which two substituents are removed from a
molecule. These reactions play an important role in the preparation of alkenes.
• Dehydration Reaction
Ethanol reacts with concentrated sulphuric acid at 443 K to produce ethylene. This
reaction is known as dehydration of ethanol because, in this reaction, a water molecule is
removed from the ethanol molecule.
CH3CH2OH → CH2=CH2+H2O
(reaction taking place in the presence of Conc.H2SO4)
Ethanoic Acid or Acetic Acid
(i)Molecular formula: CH3COOH
(ii)It dissolves in water, alcohol and ether.
(iii)It often freezes during winter in a cold climate, and therefore, it is named glacial acetic acid.
Esterification
When a carboxylic acid is refluxed with alcohol in the presence of a small quantity of
conc.H2SO4, a sweet-smelling ester is formed. This reaction of ester formation is called
esterification.
Saponification Reaction: Reaction of esters with sodium hydroxide, gives alcohol and sodium
salt of carboxylic acid (soap). This reaction is known as Saponification Reaction.
Reaction of Ethanoic Acid with Metals and Bases
• Ethanoic acid (Acetic acid) reacts with metals like sodium, zinc and magnesium to
liberate hydrogen gas.
2CH3COOH+2Na→2CH3COONa+H2(↑)
• It reacts with a solution of sodium hydroxide to form sodium ethanoate and water.
CH3COOH+NaOH→CH3COONa+H2O
Reaction of Ethanoic Acid with Carbonates and Bicarbonates
• Carboxylic acids react with carbonates and bicarbonates with the evolution of CO2 gas.
For example, when ethanoic acid (acetic acid) reacts with sodium carbonate and sodium
bicarbonate, CO2 gas is evolved.
2CH3COOH+Na2CO3→2CH3COONa+H2O+CO2
CH3COOH+NaHCO3→CH3COONa+H2O+CO2
• Soap: Sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids is called Soap.
General formula: RCOO–Na+
• Detergent: Ammonium and sulphonate salts of long chain fatty acids are called
Detergent.
Example: CH3—(CH2)11—C6H4—SO3Na.
• Hard and Soft Water: Water that does not produce lather with soap readily is called
Hard water and which produces lather with soap is called Soft Water.
Hardness of water is due to the presence of bicarbonates, chlorides and sulphate salt of
calcium and magnesium.
• Difference between soaps and detergents
Soaps Detergents
(i) These are sodium or (i) These are ammonium and
potassium salts of long chain sulphonate salts of long chain
fatty acids. fatty acids.
(ii) Ionic part of the soap is — (ii) Ionic part of detergent is —
COO–Na+ OSO3-Na+.
(iii) Their efficiency decreases (iii) Their efficiency is
in hard water unaffected in hard water.
(iv) Detergents are non-
(iv) Soaps are biodegradable.
biodegradable.
Cleansing Action of Soaps and Detergents: Both soaps and detergents contains two parts. A
long hydrocarbon part which is hydrophobic (water repelling) in nature and a short ionic part
which is hydrophilic (water attracting) in nature.
The hydrocarbon part of the soap molecule links itself to the oily (dirt) drop and ionic end
orients itself towards water and forms a spherical structure called micelles. The soap micelles
helps in dissolving the dirt in water and wash our clothes.