Question

What are the chemical reactions of carbon?

Answer 1

Elemental carbon undergoes no reaction at room temperature and limited number of reactions at elevated temperatures. But its compounds undergo large number of reactions even at room temperature.
Oxidation – (Reaction with oxygen)
Carbon combines with oxygen to form its oxides like carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) with evolution of heat. Organic carbon compounds like hydrocarbon also undergo oxidation to form oxides and steam with evolution of heat and flame. This is otherwise called Burning,
2C_(s) + O_2(g) ➝ 2CO_(g) + heat
C_(s) + O_2(g) ➝ CO_2(g) + heat

• Reaction with steam
  Carbon reacts with steam to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This mixture is called water gas.
  C_(s) + H_(s)O_(g) ➝ CO_(g) + H_2(g)
• Reaction with sulphur
  With sulphur, carbon forms its disulphide at high temperature.
  C_(s) + S_(s) ➝ CS_2(g)
• Reaction with metals
  At elevated temperatures, carbon reacts with some metals like iron, tungsten, Titanium, etc. to form their carbides.
  W_(s) + C_(g) ➝ WC_(s)