Carbon and its compounds · कार्बन एवं उसके यौगिक
A free Chemistry lesson for Class 10 children.
Carbon has four electrons in its outer shell, so it forms four covalent bonds by sharing electrons.
Carbon atoms can join into long chains, branches and rings. This is called catenation.
Alkanes have only single bonds, like methane and ethane. They are saturated.
Alkenes have a double bond and alkynes a triple bond. They are unsaturated.
A functional group gives a compound its properties: an alcohol has OH, a carboxylic acid has COOH.
Ethanol is used in medicines and as a fuel. Ethanoic acid is the acid in vinegar.
Burning a hydrocarbon in plenty of air gives carbon dioxide, water and heat.
Soap molecules have a water-loving head and an oil-loving tail. They form micelles that lift grease away.