I. Let’s Talk About
Carbon atoms
have:
•6 protons
•6 neutrons
•6 electrons
(when neutral)
CARBON!!
+
+ +
+ +
+
Carbon atoms have 4 valence
electrons, and they are all single
C
• Carbon atoms will always make 4 bonds. There
are lots of ways to do this:
 4 single bonds
C
OR
 2 singles and 1 double
 2 doubles
C
OR
 1 single and 1 triple
C
C
OR
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
C2H6
CH4
H
C
H
H
H
H
H
C
H
H
H
C
H
C
C
H
H
H
C4H10
C3H8
H
H
C
H
H
H
H
H
H
C
C
C
C
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
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-
Name the following:
1. CH4
2. C2H6
3. C3H8
4. C4H10
5. C6H14
6. C8H18
1.Methane
2.Ethane
3.Propane
4.Butane
5.Hexane
6.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
H
H
H
C
C
H
H
H
Ethane
H
H
C
H
C
H
Ethene
H
Ethyne
H
H
C C
H
H
H
C C
C
H
H
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!
H
H
H
H
CH3
H
C
H
C
H
C
H
C
H
H
CH3
CH
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?