I. Let’s Talk About CARBON!!

Carbon atoms have:•6 protons•6 neutrons•6 electrons (when neutral)

+++

+

++

Carbon atoms have 4 valenceelectrons, and they are all single

• Carbon atoms will always make 4 bonds. There are lots of ways to do this:

4 single bonds OR

2 singles and 1 double OR

2 doubles OR

1 single and 1 triple

C

CC

C

C

II. So how does Carbon work?A. There are many different forms:

•Graphite

A. There are many different forms:•Diamond

A. There are many different forms:•Amorphous

A. There are many different forms:•Buckminsterfullerene

B. Carbon in Compounds•A hydrocarbon is a compound containing the elements carbon and hydrogen•Carbon forms the skeleton of each molecule•The hydrogens collect on the outside

CH

H

H

H

C CH

H H

H

HH

C C

H

H H

H

HH

C

H

H

CH

H

C

H

H

HH

C

H

H

C

H

H

CH4

C2H6

C3H8

C4H10

C. Naming Hydrocarbons

• If all the carbons are single bonded, the skeleton is holding as many hydrogens as it can, so it is saturated we call this type of hydrocarbon an alkane

• The prefix is based on the number of carbon atoms

• If it is saturated, the ending is “-ane”

“pre” fixes

One Meth- Five Pent- Nine Non-

Two Eth- Six Hex- Ten Dec-

Three Prop- Seven Hept-  

Four But- Eight Oct-  

“Pre”fixes

Name the following:1. CH4

2. C2H6

3. C3H8

4. C4H10

5. C6H14

6. C8H18

1.Methane2.Ethane3.Propane4.Butane5.Hexane6.Octane

What happens if we add a double or triple bond? We call them unsaturated

• Alkenes - hydrocarbons containing a double bond• Alkynes - hydrocarbons containing a triple bond

C CH

H H

H

HH

C CH H

C CH

H

H

H

C C C

H

H H H

H

H

EthaneEthyne

Ethene Propene

E. Properties of hydrocarbons

• Because they are nonpolar they don’t dissolve in water.

• The forces that hold them together are weak so most are gases or volatile liquids at room temperature.

• Many are flammable - coooool!

F. Is there only one way to make C4H10? NO!

CH

H

C

H

H

HH

C

H

H

C

H

HCH3

CH CH3

CH3

•These are the two isomers of C4H10

G. Carbon chains

• How many bonds does carbon like to make? • 4 • Carbon is good at making long chains also.

This results in many properties:– Elastic - able to stretch and return to original

shape– No definite melting point– Able to take any shape

G. Carbon Chains

• Examples of polymers:– Plastic and rubber

• Biological molecules like proteins , fats and starches

Which is which?