Group 4A(14): The Carbon Family

KEY ATOMIC PROPERTIES, PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, AND REACTIONS

 The Carbon Cycle - video

1. Earth Science
2.  Earth's Resources
3.  Non-Renewable Energy

VIDEOS: Carbon: Introduction Carbon: Synthetic Diamonds Carbon: Buckminsterfullerene

1. Atoms and Bonding

2.  Chemical Bonds
3.  Carbon
 What Is Carbon ?

- the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6.

- as a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making

four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds.

- There are three naturally occurring isotopes, with 12C and 13C being stable, while 14C is
radioactive

- considerd to be the most important element of the biosphere, pure in nature exists in two
allotrope modifications – graphite and diamond
 Allotropes of carbon
In the element carbon, atoms bond in different ways,
creating different kinds of giant structures.

Two of these structures are diamond and graphite.

They are called allotropes of carbon.

Allotropes have the same chemical properties because

they have the same number of electrons.

However, they have different physical properties because

the electrons are shared in different ways with other atoms.
The structure of diamond
This pattern arrangement is
Diamond is a rare form of
repeated millions of times to
carbon in which each atom
create a giant lattice.
is covalently bonded to four
others.

C
C
C
C
The properties of diamond
All the electrons in the outer shell of the carbon atom (2.4) are
used in covalent bonds. This affects diamond’s properties.

 Diamond is very hard – the hardest natural substance

on Earth – 10 th on MOHS' SCALE

 Diamond has a very high melting

and boiling point – a lot of energy is
needed to break the covalent bonds.

 Diamond cannot conduct electricity –

there are no free electrons or ions to
carry a charge
The structure of graphite

Graphite is a much more

This forms rings of six atoms,
common form of carbon, in
creating a giant structure containing
which each atom is covalently
many layers. These layers are held
bonded to three others.
together by weak forces of
attraction.

C C
Weak van der Waals forces of attraction
The properties of graphite

Only three of the four electrons in the outer shell of the

carbon atom (2.4) are used in covalent bonds. This affects
graphite’s properties.
 Graphite is soft and slippery –
layers can easily slide over each
other because the weak forces of
attraction are easily broken. This is
why graphite is used as a lubricant.

 Graphite can conduct electricity –

the only non-metal to do. There is a
free electron from each atom to
carry a charge.
Allotropes and their properties
How do the different properties of diamond and graphite
depend on their structures?
 Other allotropes of carbon
Other allotropes of carbon have been discovered in the last 30 years.
They are large but not really giant structures. FULLERENES
One allotrope is buckminsterfullerene. It contains 60 carbon atoms, each of
which bonds with three others by forming two single bonds and one double bond.
These atoms are arranged in 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons to form spheres,
which are sometimes called ‘bucky balls’ – the most symetric molecule in the
nature. It is theoretically the puriest form of carbon.
C

C
C C
Apart the pure form carbon can be found in nature in these forms: pills of bone char

Bone char/kostné uhlie/ (Spodium burned bone)  (Latin: carbo animalis)

is a porous, black, granular material produced by charring /spaľovanie/
animal bones. It is primarily used for filtration and decolourisation, water treatment,
sugar refining, black pigment / boot creams etc/

Carbon black /sadze/- is a material produced by the incomplete combustion

of heavy petroleum products such as FCC tar /Fluid catalytic cracking/
- mainly used as a reinforcing filler in tires and other rubber products.

Activated carbon /aktívne –živočíšne uhlie/- have small, low-volume

pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption/ch. reactions
- is usually derived from charcoal
- is used in gas purification, decaffeination, gold purification, metal extraction, water
purification, medicine, sewage treatment, air filters in gas masks and respirators
- tablets or capsules of activated carbon are used in many countries to treat indigestion
Charcoal /drevené uhlie/is a light, black residue, consisting of carbon  obtained by removing
water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances.
- is usually produced by heating of wood in the absence of oxygen 
- also used to absorb odors and toxins in gases, such as air.
- special type is activated charcoal - absorption of poisons, especially in the case of suicide
attempts in which the patient has ingested a large amount of a drug
- is used in art for drawing, making rough sketches in painting

Coke /koks/ is a fuel with few impurities and a high carbon content, usually made from coal.
- is used as a fuel and as a reducing agent in smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. The carbon
monoxide produced by its combustion reduces iron oxide (hematite) in the production of
the iron product.  

burning charcoal
coke
COMPOUNDS

Carbon forms predominantly covalent bonds

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly less
dense than air, slightly soluble in water
- it is highly toxic - it combines with haemoglobin to produce carboxyhaemoglobin,
which usurps the space in hemoglobin that normally carries oxygen, but is
ineffective for delivering oxygen to bodily tissues.
- strong reducing agent – production of iron

- is part of Water gas /vodný plyn/- a synthesis gas, containing carbon

monoxide and hydrogen,
The gas is made by passing steam over a red-hot carbon fuel such as coke:
H2O + C → H2 + CO 

CO is formed by incomplete combustion of carbon:

Carbon dioxide – (CO2) is a colorless, not flammable, odorless gas with a slightly pungent,
acid taste.
- vital to life on Earth
- comparing to CO its soluble in water:
it is an acidic oxide and reacts with water to give carbonic acid.

CO2 + H2O ==> H2CO3

- not breathable, but also not toxic when there is less than 10% of CO2 in the air
- exists in the Earth's atmosphere as a trace gas at a concentration of about 0.03 % 
- is a product of respiration of all aerobic organisms

 
PRODUCTION:

Reaction of carbon with air

Thermal decomposition of carbonates:

CaCO3 CaO + CO2

Reactions with acids

MgCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) -> MgCl2 (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O

Decay of dead bodies of plants and animals, alcohol fermentation....

Global warming and greenhouse gases

One of the greatest threats caused by air pollution is global warming.

Global warming is caused by a build-up of greenhouses gases, which leads
to an increase in the Earth’s temperature.

A greenhouse gas is an atmospheric

gas that absorbs infrared light.

Key greenhouses gases include:

 carbon dioxide (CO2)

 methane (CH4)
 water vapour (H2O)
 nitrous oxide (N2O)
The greenhouse effect
 How hot can the greenhouse effect get?

The planet Venus is further from the Sun

than Mercury but has an higher average
temperature. Its surface can reach up to
482°C, which is hot enough to melt lead!

Venus’ atmosphere is mostly made up of

carbon dioxide, which traps so much of the
solar radiation that the planet becomes
extremely hot.

The hostile climate conditions on Venus

make it impossible for life to survive.
 What is global warming?

The term “global warming” is often used in connection

with climate change, but what does it mean?

Global warming refers to the increase in the

Earth’s temperature due to the greenhouse effect,
which can cause changes in climate.

However, the term “global warming” is being used now to refer to the warming
predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases
and other human activities. This enhanced greenhouse effect may lead to
significant climate change.

Remember, global warming and climate change are not

the same thing and should not be used interchangeably.
Why is carbon dioxide so important?
Carbon dioxide is considered the most significant
greenhouse gas.
This is because carbon dioxide can remain in the
environment over a long time, from 50 to 200 years.

Any process producing carbon dioxide today could affect

the climate for hundreds of years.
Carbon is present in all living things and moves through the environment in
a chain of reactions called the carbon cycle.
Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have increased
since the industrial revolution in the 19th century.
How might human activities have contributed to this?
SALTS OF CARBONIC ACID: CARBONATES
characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, CO32-
as CaCO3 - abundant in minerals
HYDROGENCARBONATES - HCO3−

Carbon disulfide is a colorless volatile liquid with the formula CS2. The compound is used

frequently as a building block in organic chemistry as well as an industrial and chemical
non-polar solvent (iodine, white phosphorus, sulphur, fats…).
It has an "ether-like" odor
- highly toxic – brain, nervous system damage

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) It is a colorless, extremely poisonous liquid, bitter – almond like

odour, HCN is the precursor to sodium cyanide - NaCN and potassium cyanide KCN –
highly toxic, which are used mainly in gold and silver mining and for the electroplating of
those metals.

-
causes respiratory centrum paralysis in brain
Special group of carbon compounds are hydrocarbons – compounds of carbon and
hydrogen – organic chemistry - wide variety of compounds - due to the ability of C
to bond to itself, and to form multiple bonds.

Urea or carbamide is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO(NH2)2.

- it is a derivate of carbic acid, its diamide - molecule has two —NH2 groups joined
by a carbonyl (C=O) functional group.

The body uses it in many processes, most notably nitrogen excretion. Urea is widely
used in fertilizers as a source of nitrogen and is an important raw material for
the chemical industry.

Phosgene   COCl2. This colorless gas - a chemical weapon during World War I where it was
responsible for about 85% of the 100,000 deaths caused by chemical weapons. 
DIAMONDS:
Industrial diamonds are mostly used in cutting, grinding, drilling and polishing
procedures. Here, hardness and heat conductivity characteristics are the
qualities being purchased.
Only 5% of all production is used in jewellery
GRAPHITE:
Used for refractories, steelmaking, brake linings, electrodes, lubricants, pencils

FULLERENES:
- used in nanotechnology, electronics industry as semiconductors in electrical
circuits.

Carbon Dioxide extinguishers are filled with non-flammable carbon dioxide gas
under extreme pressure, work by displacing oxygen – foam and snow fire
extinguishers
Dry ice - solid form of carbon dioxide.
- used primarily as a cooling agent -for preserving frozen foods, ice cream, etc.
 Figure 14.13 Freon-12 (CCl2F2), a chlorofluorocarbon.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s or Freons) are chemically and thermally

stable, nontoxic, and nonflammable. They are excellent cleaners,
refrigerants, and propellants, but they decompose extremely slowly
near the Earth’s surface. They readily enter the stratosphere, where
UV radiation causes them to release free Cl atoms that damage the
ozone layer.
SILICON
Silicon  - Si and atomic number 14.
- tetravalent metalloid
- the second most abundant element in the
Earth's crust (about 28% by mass) after oxygen.

- very rarely occurs as the pure free element in nature.

- distributed in dusts, sands, and planets as various
forms of silicon dioxide (silica) or silicates.
 VIDEO: The Elements: Silicon

1. Periodic Table
2.  Metals
3.  Metal Examples
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

- grey colour and a metallic luster 

- strong, but brittle crystaline solid at room temperature, with relatively high melting
and boiling points

- the structure is similar to diamond

- metalloid, semiconductor

- able to form chains, but comparing to CARBON: bonds Si-Si and Si-H are weaker than
C-C and C-H bonds

- but Si-O bonds are stronger than C-O, so it easily form so called siloxanes with alkyl
chains -R
Silicone Nomenclature

SILICON Si
O

SILICA O Si O
O
X

SILANES X Si X
X

R
SILOXANES O Si O
R
Production – reduction of SiO2 by pure coke in electric furnace

SiO2 + 2C Si + 2CO
Si is not very reactive.

- it reacts with with water and air only when temperature is very high
- its surface is covered by silicon oxide
- is resistant to acids except HF

- it disolves in diluted solutions of hydroxides of alkali metals and hydrogen is released:

Si + NaOH + H2O Na2SiO3 + 2H2

sodium silicate

also known
as waterglass or liquid glass
Si COMPOUNDS

Silicon dioxide, also known as silica - SiO2

- solid
- giant molecular structure
silica

Silica gel

- dried, hydrated silica – silica gel –

very good adsorbent

- is the major constituent of sand

- Silica is most commonly found in nature as quartz

- Pure quartz, traditionally called rock crystal or clear

quartz, is colorless and transparent or translucent

quartz

Clear rock crystals on a white base

 - common colored varieties include:
citrine /yellow/, rose quartz,
amethyst /purple/, smoky quartz, milky
quartz, and others.

Smoky quartz Milky quartz

rose quartz
amethyst citrine
Quartz is a three-dimensional framework silicate.
SiO2 reacts just with HF / hydrofluoric acid /

SiO2(s) + 4 HF(aq) SiF4(g) + 2 H2O(l)

SiO2 is main component of glass, so we cannot store HF in glass bottles !!!!!

Silicic acid 
- Silicic acid is the general name for a family of chemical compounds containing the
element silicon attached to oxide and hydroxyl groups.

- This family of compounds have the general formula [SiOx(OH)4-2x]n 

-  metasilicic acid (H2SiO3), orthosilicic acid (H4SiO4),disilicic acid (H2Si2O5),

and pyrosilicic acid (H6Si2O7); their salts together with silica play an important role in
glass industry

orthosilicic acid Metasilicic acid

Aluminium silicates 

- is a name commonly applied to chemical compounds which are derived

from aluminium oxide, Al2O3 and silicon dioxide, SiO2 which may be anhydrous or
hydrated, naturally occurring as minerals or synthetic

The most common are: zeolite

Zeolites are microporous, aluminosilicate minerals 
commonly used as commercial adsorbents and catalysts

Feldspars - (KAlSi3O8 – NaAlSi3O8 – CaAl2Si2O8) are a group of rock-

feldspar
forming tectosilicate minerals that make up as much as
60% of the Earth's crust
used in glassmaking, ceramics, and to some extent
as a filler and extender in paint, plastics, and rubber.
Silicon and hydrogen compounds:
silane, SiH4
Silanes with the general formula SinH2n + 2 

Halogenderivates:

SiCl4 - silicon tetrachloride

- as an intermediate in the manufacture

of polysilicon, a hyper pure form of silicon
Si - ABUNDANCE AND USES:
Silicon wafer with
Si is a biogenic element mirror finish

- is part of bones, cartilage, tooth enamel, placenta 

- it influences the growth of organism, participate in bone calcification
- Is needed for synthesis of elastin and collagen; the aorta contains
- the highest quantity of elastin and silicon
- participates in elasticity of skin, muscles, walls of blood vessels, hair and nails

- Building materials - such as clays, silica sand and most kinds of building stone.
- used in making Portland cement (made mostly of calcium silicates) which is used in building
mortar and modern stucco, but more importantly, combined with silica sand, and gravel
(usually containing silicate minerals like granite), to make the concrete
- Ceramics and glass
- Electronics
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2aWO5cL410
What is Glass?

SUPERCOOLED LIQUID

LIQUID WHICH IS COOLED TO A STAGE WHERE ITS VISCOSITY

IS SO GREAT THAT THE MOLECULES DO NOT MOVE FREELY

ENOUGH TO FORM CRYSTALS

45
What is glass made of?

Sand – 70%
Soda Ash – 15%
Limestone – 10%
 SILICA SAND

Extremely heat durable

Chemical stack resistance
SODA ASH
Anhydrous sodium carbonate
Texture: soft
Color: grayish & white
Appearance: lump / powder in nature
 LIME
Includes hydrated lime Ca (OH)2 & quicklime CaO
Only quicklime can be used to make glass
Characteristics of Glass

- basic components, which are mixed in certain ratio, for its production are:

silicon dioxide, calcium carbonate and sodium carbonate.

Properties:

 Hard, amorphous solid

 Usually transparent
 Primarily composed of silica with various amounts of elemental oxides
 Brittle
 Exhibits conchoidal fracture - describes the way that brittle materials break or
fracture when they do not follow any natural planes of separation. 
The basic componets of glass are together with the cullet – recycled glass, melted at
1400 – 1500 °C, then the mixture is colled and solidifies.

The composition of Flat glass, /sheet glass/ is expressed: Na2O.CaO.6SiO2

- for the production of glass with special properties we add different oxides: MgO,
BaO /increases the refractive index/, ZnO, PbO /better optical properties/

Borosilicate glass is a type of glass with silica and boron trioxide - B2O3

Coloured glass – adding of different metals and metal oxides

CoO – blue
MnO2 – purple
FeO – green
Fe2O3 – yellow- brown
CuO – bue- green
Cu, Au - red
A very clear and durable quartz glass - made from pure silica
- which is very tough and resistant to thermal shock.

has different properties as other glass:

– permeable for UV light,

- high melting point
- very tough
- opticaly pure
- used in optics for production of lenses and mirrors, for lab equipment

Milk glass is an opaque or translucent, milk white or colored glass

- adding of calcium fluoride and calcium phosphate

First made in Venice in the 16th century, colors include blue, pink, yellow, brown, black,
and the white that led to its popular name.
 Common Glass Types

 Soda-lime—used in plate and window glass, glass containers, and electric light bulbs

 Soda-lead—fine table ware and art objects

 Borosilicate—heat resistant, like Pyrex

 Silica—used in chemical ware

 Tempered—used in side windows of cars

 Laminated—used in the windshield of most cars

CERAMICS

-the main substance of the ceramics industry is china clay – kaolin

which consits mostly from mineral:

Kaolinite is a clay mineral, Al2Si2O5(OH)4.

- produced by the chemical weathering of aluminium silicate minerals like feldspar.

- Uses: in ceramics (it is the main component of porcelain)

- by adding powder feldspar and quartz to very pure kaolin we get porcelain.

- from less quality ceramics raw materials – clays – bricks, pottery, dried covering