Question

Write three chemical properties of carbon.

Answer 1

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CARBON
(i) Reaction with oxygen: Carbon has a great affinity for oxygen. In excess supply of oxygen, it forms carbon dioxide. In limited supply of oxygen it forms carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas.

(ii) Reaction with hydrogen: Carbon reacts with hydrogen at 500°C and 250 atmospheric pressure to form a mixture of hydrocarbons like ethane, methane etc.

(iii) Carbon as reducing agent:
(a) Carbon reduces metal oxides to form metal and carbon monoxide.
ZnO + C → Zn + CO
(b) Carbon reduces concentrated sulphuric acid to form SO₂ and cone, nitric acid to form NO₂

_{`C + 2H_2SO_4→ CO_2  + 2H_2O + 2SO_2`}

_{`""C + 4HNO_3 → CO_2 + 2H_2O + 4NO_2`}