1. Carbon
Properties of carbon
Functional groups of organic compounds

2. A. Properties of Carbon
Each carbon can form four covalent bonds with other atoms
Compounds formed from covalent bonds with carbon are called organic compounds
Each covalent bond consists of a pair of shared electrons
Single bond: when two atoms share one pair of electrons
Double bond: when two atoms share two pairs of electrons

3. A. Properties of Carbon
When a carbon atom forms four single bonds, its geometry is tetrahedral
Example: methane
When a carbon atom forms a double bond, its geometry is flat or linear
Examples: ethene (ethylene), carbon dioxide

4. A. Properties of Carbon
Carbon atoms can form stable bonds with other carbon atoms.
Therefore, large stable molecules made of long “chains” of carbon are possible.
Silicon, although tetravalent, does not form stable Si-Si chains. Therefore, the “silicon-based life” of science fiction does not exist.

5. A. Properties of Carbon
Isomers are compounds with the same empirical formulas but with the atoms arranged in different arrangements
Structural isomers
Geometric isomers
Entantiomers

6. B. Functional Groups
See table in textbook