Carbon Chemical Formula: Calcium Carbonate, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide

The name carbon is derived from a Latin word carbo that means coal. Carbon is a non-metal and the \({15^{{\text{th}}}}\) most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. It is the \({4^{{\text{th}}}}\) most abundant element by mass after hydrogen, helium and oxygen in the universe. It forms many compounds with hydrogen, oxygen, halogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, etc. Carbon serves as the most common element of all the life forms on the Earth. Carbon is an essential element in all organic compounds (found in plants and animals). Carbon is the \({2^{{\text{nd}}}}\) most abundant element in the human body after oxygen. Read the entire article to learn details about carbon such as carbon chemical formula, important compounds, properties etc.

Occurrence of Carbon

The amount of carbon present in the Earth’s crust and the atmosphere is quite meagre. The Earth’s crust has only \(0.02\% \) carbon as carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, coal, petroleum etc. It is also present in the atmosphere as \({\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}\left({0.03\% } \right).\)

 Despite of this small amount of carbon available in nature, the importance of carbon is immense. Carbon is present in all plants and living entities in the form of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and other carbon compounds. Diamond, graphite, coal, coke, charcoal etc., are some of its various allotropic forms and are known to man for a long time.

Carbon forms many compounds with many other elements, and the compounds formed are broadly classified into two categories; inorganic compounds and organic compounds. Organic compounds being large in number (in millions) and thus are studied in a separate branch of chemistry known as organic chemistry.

Carbon can occur in ‘state’ as well as in ‘combined state’.

In the state, it occurs as

– Coke, charcoal and lampblack (amorphousform)

\(\left.{\begin{array}{{c}} {{\text{ – Diamond }}} \hfill \\ {{\text{ – Graphite }}} \hfill \\ {{\text{ – Fullerene }}} \hfill \\ \end{array} } \right\}\) allotropes of carbon (crystalline form)

In a combined state, it occurs as:

• 1. Oxides of carbon (\({\text{CO}}\) and \({\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}\))
• 2. Metal carbonates (\({\text{CaC}}{{\text{O}}_3},{\text{MgC}}{{\text{O}}_3},\) etc.)
• 3. Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum and natural gas)
• 4. Organic compounds (found in all living organisms)

Carbon Chemical Formula

Carbon has an atomic number of \(6,\) which denotes the number of electrons in the atom. It is a non-metal and is symbolised by the symbol \({\text{C}}{\text{.}}\) It has six protons, six neutrons, and six electrons. Because the atom is so small, it may easily be incorporated into larger compounds. Each atom has four valence electrons in its outer shell, which can be used to form chemical bonds with other atoms and molecules.

Carbon Structural Formula

Carbon has the following structural formula. Carbon is a non-metallic, tetravalent compound that may create a covalent connection with four electrons. Carbon can form many stable covalent bonds with suitable atoms, and it can easily form bonds with other atoms, including other carbon atoms.

Study Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds

Valency of Carbon Atoms

The atomic number of carbons is \(6,\) and its electronic configuration is \(2,4.\) Therefore, the number of valence electrons in a carbon atom is \(4.\) Since the number of valence electrons is \(4,\) the valency of the carbon atom is also \(4.\)

Covalent bonding in Carbon Compound

The mutual sharing of electrons forms a covalent bond. Carbon also shares its four valence electrons with other atoms of carbon or with atoms of other elements to acquire noble gas configuration.

Carbon can make single, double or triple covalent bonds by sharing one, two or three electrons, respectively.

Physical Properties of Carbon Compound

The physical properties of this element are different according to its allotropes. Diamond and graphite are the two most common allotropes. Physically, these two are almost directly opposed.

1. Graphite is opaque and black, whereas diamond is transparent and colourless.
2. Diamond is the hardest substance known to man, while graphite is soft and spongy.
3. Diamond is a bad conductor of electricity; graphite is a very good conductor of electricity.
4. Diamond and graphite are insoluble in water.
5. The structure of diamond is a compact, three-dimensional structure in which the atoms are held firmly by strong covalent bonds — the structure of graphite layers of arranged sheets held by weak physical forces.

Chemical Properties of Carbon Compounds

The chemical properties of carbon compounds are explained below:

Combustion or Oxidation in the Air

 The burning of a compound in excess of oxygen or air is called combustion. It is always an exothermic process and releases energy in the form of heat and light. Combustion reactions are, in fact, oxidation reactions.

\({\text{C}} + {{\text{O}}_2} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2} + {\text{Energy}}\)

Most of the carbon compounds also burn in oxygen and release a large amount of energy in the form of heat and light. The process of burning any substance in the air to release energy is known as combustion.

All the hydrocarbons burn rapidly in excess of air or oxygen and get oxidized to carbon dioxide and water with the evolution of a large amount of heat.

Example 1: Combustion of methane

\({\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_4} + 2{{\text{O}}_2} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2} + 2{{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}} + {\text{Energy}}\)

Example 2: Combustion of ethane

\(2{{\text{C}}_2}{{\text{H}}_6} + 7{{\text{O}}_2} \to 4{\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2} + 6{{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}} + {\text{Energy}}\)

Due to the evolution of a large amount of heat during combustion, hydrocarbons are used as fuels. Methane is a major constituent of natural gas that is used as a fuel in houses, transport and industry. LPG, which is used as cooking gas, mainly comprises butane.Ethyne gas is used as fuel in oxyacetylene torch used for welding and cutting of metals.

Alkanes, when burnt in a limited (insufficient) supply of air or oxygen, incomplete combustion takes place. The products formed may be either carbon monoxide and water or carbon black and water.

or

Carbon monoxide formed is highly poisonous because of its ability to form carboxyhaemoglobin in the blood. This reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood and causes oxygen deficiency that may lead to unconsciousness and even death. Many incidences of carbon monoxide poisoning have been reported in the media, more often in winters. In households, gas geysers fitted in small bathrooms may also produce carbon monoxide, making a person unconscious. Carbon black formed is used in the manufacture of printer ink and other black pigments.

Oxidation by Oxidising Agents

Carbon compounds also undergo slow oxidation without burning. Partial oxidation is also possible in a restricted supply of air and specified conditions. e.g.,

\(2{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_4} + {{\text{O}}_2} \to 2{\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_3}{\text{OH}}\)

Uses of Carbon in Daily Life

Carbon is employed in so many daily activities that you may not even realise it. The following are some of the most important applications:

• 1. The diamond form of carbon is employed in jewellery. However, diamonds are also employed in the industry. Because it is the hardest substance known to man, it has a wide range of applications in manufacturing.
• 2. Inks and paints are made from amorphous carbon. It is also utilised in the manufacture of batteries.
• 3. The lead-in your pencils is made of graphite. It’s also used in the steel-making process.
• 4. Carbon dating is one of the most common applications. Carbon can be used to determine the age of objects.
• Carbon-\(14,\) a rare type of carbon, is used by scientists to determine the age of fossils, bones, and other objects.

Chemical Formula of Calcium Carbonate

Calcium carbonate is a common chemical that is initially seen in school classrooms, where chalk (a type of \({\text{CaC}}{{\text{O}}_3}\)) is commonly used. It can be found in the crust of the Earth. It can also be found in a variety of forms, such as marble and limestone. They are chemically similar and only differ physically, despite the fact that they are available in various forms. Calcite is another name for them.

Calcium carbonate is a non-toxic, odourless compound that can be found as a white mineral in chalks, limestones, and marbles.

Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound whose formula is \({\text{CaC}}{{\text{O}}_3}.\)

It’s a white, insoluble powder-like substance found in minerals, chalk, marble, limestone, calcite, shells, and pearls, etc.

It’s used as an antacid or a calcium supplement in medicine. It’s also used in cosmetics as a filler. It is used as a disinfectant and \({\text{pH}}\) corrector in swimming pools.

Carbon dioxide Chemical Formula

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Its formula is \({\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}.\)

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound that exists naturally in the atmosphere. It is a gas at room temperature. It is made up of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. Carbon dioxide is released when people and animals exhale. It is a low-concentration greenhouse gas found in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Learn Uses of Carbon

Carbon Monoxide Chemical Formula

Carbon monoxide is made up of one oxygen atom and one carbon atom that is connected by a triple bond made up of two covalent bonds and one dative covalent bond. \({\text{CO}}\) is the chemical formula for carbon monoxide. It’s a tasteless, odourless, and colourless gas. It’s the product of incomplete combustion of carbon-based chemicals, which happens a lot in internal combustion engines. It has a high fuel value, burning in the air with a distinctive blue flame and emitting carbon dioxide.

Chemical Formula of Ammonium Carbonate

It’s a chemical compound made up of ammonium and carbonate ions. \({\left({{\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_4}} \right)_2}{\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_3}\) is the chemical or molecular formula for ammonium carbonate.

It has a sharp ammoniacal taste and is a colourless crystalline solid or white powder with a strong ammonia odour. It is non-combustible and water-soluble. It produces ammonium salt and carbon dioxide when it combines with acids. It produces ammonia gas when it reacts with bases. Carbon dioxide and aqueous ammonia are mixed to make them.

Summary

Carbon, a non-metal, occupies a very special and highly significant position among the one hundred fourteen elements known so far, due to its unique and versatile nature of forming a very large number of compounds, as well as its importance in the living world, such as the food we eat, the fuels we use, the medicines we take to get a cure, the clothes we wear, the books we read, and so on.

FAQs on Carbon Chemical Formula

The most commonly asked questions about Carbon Chemical Formula are answered here:

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