Carbon, Allotropes, Coal and Carbon Compounds

Question 1

Where is carbon located on the Periodic Table?

Accepted Answer

Group 14 (or Group IVA) and Period 2

Question 2

What is the electron configuration of a neutral carbon atom with an atomic number of 6?

Accepted Answer

2, 4

Question 3

What is the valency of carbon, and how does it typically achieve a stable octet configuration?

Accepted Answer

Valency of 4, by sharing electrons to form covalent bonds

Question 4

What is the term for the unique ability of carbon atoms to link together to form long chains, branched chains, and rings?

Accepted Answer

Catenation

Question 5

Which isotope of carbon is radioactive and commonly used in radiocarbon dating of ancient organic materials?

Accepted Answer

Carbon-14 ($^{14}\text{C}$)

Question 6

In diamond, what is the geometric arrangement of the covalent bonds around each carbon atom?

Accepted Answer

Tetrahedral

Question 7

Why is graphite able to conduct electricity, unlike diamond?

Accepted Answer

Each carbon atom has one free valence electron not involved in bonding

Question 8

What is the term used to describe the existence of an element in two or more different physical forms with distinct properties?

Accepted Answer

Allotropy

Question 9

Which form of amorphous carbon is produced by the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons and used as a pigment in inks and rubber tyres?

Accepted Answer

Soot (Carbon Black)

Question 10

Which type of coal has the highest carbon content (86-97%) and heating value?

Accepted Answer

Anthracite

Question 11

Which type of coal is known as brown coal, has the lowest carbon content (25-35%), and contains high moisture?

Accepted Answer

Lignite

Question 12

How is coke, a porous carbon material used in steel production, produced from bituminous coal?

Accepted Answer

By heating it in the absence of air

Question 13

What is 'dry ice', and at what temperature does it sublime?

Accepted Answer

Solid carbon dioxide at $-78.5\text{ °C}$

Question 14

Why is carbon monoxide ($CO$) highly poisonous to humans?

Accepted Answer

It binds irreversibly to haemoglobin, preventing oxygen transport

Question 15

What are the primary components of synthetic gas (syngas) produced via gasification?

Accepted Answer

Carbon monoxide and hydrogen

Question 16

What is the process of converting carbon-containing materials into syngas at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam?

Accepted Answer

Gasification

Question 17

In industrial metallurgy, how is carbon monoxide ($CO$) utilized in blast furnaces?

Accepted Answer

As a reducing agent to extract metals from their ores

Question 18

Which carbon compound is the primary constituent of limestone, marble, and sea shells?

Accepted Answer

Calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$)

Question 19

How many neutrons are present in a single atom of the stable isotope Carbon-13 ($^{13}\text{C}$)?

Accepted Answer

7

Question 20

How many covalent bonds does each carbon atom form in diamond compared to graphite?

Accepted Answer

4 in diamond, 3 in graphite

Strong work.