12. Carbon and its Compounds

Carbon is a unique element that forms a large number of compounds because of its special properties such as tetravalency (ability to form four bonds) and catenation (ability to form long chains of carbon atoms). Due to these properties, carbon forms many important compounds like hydrocarbons, alcohols, and organic molecules that are essential for life and industry.

In this lesson, students learn about the covalent bonding of carbon, different types of carbon compounds, and their structures. The chapter also explains important substances such as ethanol, ethanoic acid, soaps, and detergents, and their uses in everyday life. Understanding carbon and its compounds helps students see how chemistry plays a key role in fuels, medicines, plastics, and many materials used in daily life.