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TOPICS: CARBON AND ITS COMPOUNDS

CONTENT:
1. CARBON, ALLOTROPES AND THEIR STRUCTURES,
2. PROPERTIES, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIAMOND AND GRAPHITE
3. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CARBON
4. COAL AND TYPES OF COAL

PERIOD 1:CARBON, ALLOTROPES AND THEIR STRUCTURES

Carbon is a non -metal found in group 4 of the periodic table. It occurs naturally as diamond
and graphite.
These physically different forms of the same chemical element are known as allotropes. Other
elements that exist in different forms in their free states include tin, Sulphur and phosphorus.
Also, it occurs in an impure form as coal and in the combine state as petroleum, wood and
natural gases.

Atomic structure of carbon

Carbon is the sixth element in the periodic table. the nucleus its atom it composed of six proton
and six neutron and in its orbital configuration is 1s22s22p2 .Carbon atom has four valency
electrons. Carbon atoms are able to join to one another by covalent bonds in a continuous
fashion. The phenomenon is called catenation.

Allotropes of carbon
Allotropy is the existence of an element in the same physical state but in different forms.
The various forms are called allotropes.
Carbon exhibits allotropy. Other elements that also exhibit allotropy are sulphur, tin, oxygen
and Phosphorus. The two crystalline allotropes of carbon are: Diamond and graphite. Charcoal
is an amorphous allotrope of carbon.

Diamond:

Properties of diamond
1. Pure diamond is hard, colourless and transparent.
2. Forms octahedral crystals with high refractive index.
3. It is very hard due to its rigidity caused by the compactness of the
molecules
4. It has a density of 3.5gcm-3,
5. High melting point of 36000C
6. It does not conduct electricity, because there is no mobile electrons.
7. It is insoluble in any solvent.
8. It is an inert substance but at 9000c, it burns in air to form carbon(iv) oxide and combines
with fluorine.
Uses of diamond
1. Because of its high refractive index and amazing metallic luster when cut, it is used in
jewelries.\;
2. Because of its hardness, diamond is used in cutting glasses, in drilling rocks; in boring of
holes; in making bearings in engines; and as an abrasive, i.e.to smoothen rough surfaces.

GRAPHITE:
Properties of graphite

1. Graphite form soft, black and opaque

hexagonal crystals, which are greasy to feel.
The softness is due to the ability of the
adjacent layers to slide over one another.
2. It is hard. Its density is 2.3gcm-3, and melts at
about 35000c.
3. It is good conductor of heat and electricity-
due to the presence of a mobile electron per
carbon atom.
4. It is soluble in any solvent. Graphite is an
example of a non –metallic conductor.it is a metalloid.
5. It is a more reactive substance burns in air to form carbon (iv) oxide at 7000c, it also
reacts with oxidizing agents to form oxides, it also reacts with fluorine and
tetraoxosulphate(vi) acid

EVALUATION
1. Define the term allotropy.
2. What is the structure of? (a) diamond (b)graphite.
3. Give the reason why diamond is hard, while graphite is soft.

Uses of graphite
1. Graphite is used as a lubricant, because of its flat hexagonal layer which can slide over one
another.
2. It is used as inert electrodes during electrolysis and for brushes of electric motors been a
good conductor of electric current.
3. When mixed with clay, graphite forms lead, which is used in making lead pencils. The
hardness of a pencil depends on the amount of clay in the mixture. Soft pencils contain more of
graphite, while hard pencils contain more of clay.Used as pencil due to its lubricating
properties.
4. Used in nuclear reactors and in crucibles due to its stability at high temperatures.
EVALUATION
1. List 3 uses of graphite with reasons.
2. Give four differences between diamond and graphite.

AMORPHOUS CARBON

These are non-crystalline (impure) forms of carbon

CHARCOAL
There are different forms of charcoal which include :

1. Wood charcoal : It is obtained by burning wood in the absence or limited supply of air. It is a
black,light,porous and brittle solid .

Uses
a. It is a good adsorbent in gas mask to adsorb liquefied gases like NH3,H2S,Cl2,SO2 and HCl

NB : When treated with steam ,it increases its ability to adsorb gases and it becomes activated
charcoal .

Activated charcoal is used industrially in the purification of water to filter particles and remove
unpleasant odours,taste,colour and adsorb gases

2. Animal Charcoal : It is obtained when bones and refuse of animals are heated in limited supply
of air.

Uses

a. It is used for adsorbing gases and to remove colours(dyes) from coloured solutions
b. It is used to turn brown sugar to a white or colourless crystals when boiled with animal or
activated charcoal
3. Lampblack : It is obtained when gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as cooking gas or
kerosene are burned in limited supply of air. A greasy or sooty black powder is obtained . It is
also deposited in the exhaust pipe of vehicle caused by incomplete combustion of petrol.
4. Carbon black
It is obtained when natural gas is burned in an inadequate supply of air.
It is used in producing carbon paper,printer’s ink,black shoe polish,black pigments in
paints,rubber of motor vehicles and typewriter’s ribbon
 5. Sugar charcoal
It is obtained when pure sugar is heated in the absence of air or by dehydrating it with H 2SO4. It
is the purest form of charcoal .
C12H22O11(S) heat 2 C(s) + 11H2O(S)

C12H22O11(S) conc H 2 S 0 4 12 C(s)

−11 H 2 O
CLASS ACTIVITY
1. Mention the respective properties and the allotropes of carbon that account for their uses
as :
a. For drilling rocks
b. As jewellery
c. As electrodes
d. In slowing down neutrons in nuclear reactors
2. State two similarities and two differences between graphite and diamond.
3. Give the reason why graphite is used as lubricant but not diamond.
4. Describe in outline how the following forms of carbon can be obtained
a. Animal charcoal
b. Lampblack

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CARBON

1. Combustion reaction
Carbon burns in limited supply of air to form carbon(II)oxide
2C(s) + O2(g) 2CO (g)

In excess air, complete combustion takes place to form carbon(IV)oxide

C(s) + O2 CO2(g)

2. Combination reaction:
Carbon combines directly with certain elements such as Sulphur, hydrogen, calcium and
aluminium at a very high temperature.
C + 2S→ CS2

3. Combination with metals such as Ca,Fe and Al at high temperatures to produce carbides
2C + Ca → CaC2
4. As a reducing agent.
Carbon is a strong reducing agent. It reduces the oxides of a less active metals.
Fe2O3 + 3C → 2Fe + 3CO
5. Reaction with strong oxidizing agent.
Trioxonitrate (v) acid oxidizes carbon to carbon (iv) oxide
4HNO3+ C → CO2 + 4NO2 + 2H2O

COAL AND TYPES OF COAL

COAL: This is one the two most principal sources of fuel and energy, the other being petroleum.
Coal was found as a result of complex chemical and physical changes when the remains of
forest were buried under the earth millions of years ago under great pressure in the absence of
air.
Coal is found in great abundance in very many parts of the world including Nigeria. Coal is a
complex mixture of hydrocarbons (compounds of carbon and hydrogen) and other organic and
inorganic compounds containing small amounts of nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus as
impurities.

TYPES OF COAL
Coal is derived from wood; it naturally contains a lot of carbon. There are four main types of
coal, arising from the progressive variation in their carbon content. They are:
1. Peat-like coal: contains about 60% of carbon.
2. Lignite coal: contains about 70% of carbon.
3. Bituminous coal: contains about 85% of carbon. This is the type that is mostly used for our
everyday domestic application.
4. Anthracite coal: contains about 94% of carbon.

The carbon content of each type of coal reflects its rank or degree of classification. Based on
carbon content, the different types of coals are put into ranks as follows:
Peak → Lignite → Bituminous → Anthracite

EVALUATION.
1. Carbon occurs most abundantly both naturally as _________ and ______
2. With two equations only, describe the combustion of carbon allotropes.
3. Mention four types of coal
DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF COAL

Destructive distillation of coal involves heating of coal to a very high temperature

(600 - 1200o C ) in the absence of air. During the process, coal decomposes to give coal gas, coal
tar, ammoniacal liquor and coke as the main products.
Coal +heat → coal gas + coal tar + ammoniacal liquor + coke
The process is also known as industrial distillation of coal. The destructive distillation of coal can
be carried in the laboratory using the set up below.

USES OF PRODUCT OF DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF COAL

1. Coal gas: Coal gas is a gaseous mixture of hydrogen, methane, carbon (ii) oxide and small
amount of ethane, hydrogen sulphide and Sulphur(iv)oxide. The main use of coal gas is as fuel.
It is cleaner and more efficient than coal and solid or liquid fuel.
2. Coal tar: Coal tar, a thick brownish-black liquid, is a mixture of many organic chemicals
including benzene, toluene, phenol, naphthalene and anthracene. The components can be
separated by fractional distillation and are used for the manufacture of commercial products
including drugs, dye, paints, insecticides, explosives, etc.
3. Ammoniacal liquor: This an aqueous solution containing mainly ammonia and is used in the
manufacture of ammonium tetraoxosulphate(iv), (NH4)2SO4 .
4. Coke: Coke is non-volatile residue which contains about 90% of amorphous carbon and is
chemically similar to hard coal. Coke is used in the manufacture of carbide, as a fuel and as a
reducing agent in the extracting of metals. Coke is used to make producer gas and water gas
through a process called gasification.

USES OF COKE
1. It is used as fuel both industrially and domestically
2. It is used to manufacture carbide used in production of ethyne.
3. It is a reducing agent in the extraction of metals from their ores.
4. It is used in the production of graphite.

GASIFICATION OF COKE:
Gasification of coke is the conversion of coke to combustible gases by incomplete oxidation
with steam and air at 1000oC . Partial oxidation of coke with air and steam gives producer gas
and water gas respectively.

GASIFICATION OF COKE
a. PRODUCER GAS: This is a mixture of one-third of carbon(II)oxide and two-thirds
nitrogen by volume. It is obtained by heating coke in a furnace in a limited. This is
achieved by passing air through red hot coke. During the process, coke is oxidized to
carbon (IV) oxide which is subsequently reduced by the hot coke to carbon (II) oxide, a
combustible gas. The process can be represented by the following equations.
O2 + 4N2 + 2C → 4N2(s) + 2CO(s) + heat

Uses
1. Producer gas is used as fuel in furnaces, retorts and limekilns.
2. It is used as a source of nitrogen for the manufacture of ammonia.

b. WATER GAS
Water gas is produced by passing steam through hot coke at 1000oC. This results in reduction of
the steam; carbon (II) oxide and hydrogen are formed. Water gas is mixture containing
hydrogen and carbon (II) oxide in equal volume.
C(s) + H2O(l) → CO(s) + H2
Water gas has a high calorific value because both carbon (II) 0xide and hydrogen are
combustible, whereas the calorific value of producer gas is low because nitrogen which is one
of its constituents is not combustible
Uses
1. Water gas is used as a fuel.
2. It is used as a source of hydrogen and other organic compounds.
EVALUATION
1. Differentiate between water gas and producer gas.
2. What is gasification of coke?
3. Highlight 4 main products of destructive distillation of coal. State their uses.
4. Explain briefly, how destructive distillation of coal is obtained.