Chapter-4. Carbon and its Compounds Science class 10 in english Medium CBSE Notes
CBSE Class 10 Science Notes in English Medium based on latest NCERT syllabus, covering definitions, diagrams, formulas, and exam-oriented explanations.
4. Carbon and its Compounds
Hydrocarbons | Alkane | Alkene | Alkyne
Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons: All carbon compounds which contain just carbon and hydrogen are called hydrocarbons.

Formulae of organic compounds:
(i) General formula: General formula represents a function for n numbers of each atom in a molecule.
Example: for alkane: CnH2n+2
(ii) Molecular formula: Molecular formula represents actual number of atoms of a molecule.
Example: For Ethane: C2H6
(iii) Condensed formula: Condensed formula represents group of atoms linked together to each carbon atom.
Example: For Ethane: CH3CH3
(iv) Structural formula: It represents exact arrangement of atom of a molecule.
Example: For Ethane:

(v) Electronic formula: Electronic formula represents the sharing of electrons amongs atoms of a molecules.
Example: For Ethane:

Saturated Carbon Compounds:
Compounds of carbon, which are linked by only single bonds between the carbon atoms are called saturated compounds.
Example: Alkanes like methane, Ethane, propane butane etc.
General formula for Alkanes: CnH2n+2
Using formula for Methane;
CnH2n+2
Putting n =1 we get
C1H2x1 + 2
CH4
Similarily;
For Ethane:
Putting n =2 we get
C2H2x2 + 2
C2H6
Similarily we can find molecular formula for propane, butane, pentane and so on .......
Alkanes: The saturated hydrocarbons in which carbon atom linked together with single bond are called alkenes.
| Name of Alkanes | Molecular Formula | Condensed structural Formula |
| Methane | CH4 | CH4 |
| Ethane | C2H6 | CH3CH3 |
| Propane | C3H8 | CH3CH2CH3 |
| Butane | C4H10 | CH3CH2CH2CH3 |
| Pentane | C5H12 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3 |
| Hexane | C6H14 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 |
| Heptane | C7H16 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 |
| Octane | C8H18 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 |
| Nonane | C9H20 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 |
| Decane | C10H22 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 |
Structure of Methane (single bond);

Single carbon atom has four unsatisfied valency Linked with Hydrogen atom like figure.


Electrone Dot strucuture of Methane
Structure of Ethane (single bond);
C - C [ carbon atoms linked together witha single bond]
Next Linked with Hydrogen atom to carbon unsatisfied valency like given figure;

Electron Dot structure of Ethane
Structure of propane (single bond);

Structure of Butane (single bond);

Structure of pentane (single bond);

Structure of hexane (single bond);

Unsaturated Carbon Compounds:
Compounds of carbon having double or triple bonds between their carbon atoms are called unsaturated compounds.
Example: Alkenes like and Alkynes;
Structure of alkenes (Double bond);
General Formula for Alkenes: CnH2n
The simplest Alkenes is Ethene;
So Ethene has 2 carbon atoms;
Now putting n = 2 in general formula;
C2H2x2 = C2H4
Propene has 3 carbon atoms;
Now putting n = 3 in general formula;
C3H2x3 = C3H6
Similarily we can find the molecular formula for other Alkenes like butene, pentene and hexene etc.
Alkenes: The unsaturated hydrocarbons which contain one or
more double bonds are called alkenes.
| Name of Alkenes | Molecular Formula | Condensed structural Formula |
| Ethene | C2H4 | CH2=CH2 |
| Propene | C3H6 | CH3CH=CH2 |
| Butene | C4H8 | CH3CH2CH=CH2 |
| Pentene | C5H10 | CH3CH2CH2CH=CH2 |
| Hexene | C6H12 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH=CH2 |
| Heptene | C7H14 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH=CH2 |
| Octene | C8H16 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH=CH2 |
| Nonene | C9H18 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH=CH2 |
| Decene | C10H20 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH=CH2 |
Structural Formula of Alkene:
| Name of Alkenes | Molecular Formula | Structural Formula |
| Ethene | C2H4 | ![]() |
| Propene | C3H6 | ![]() |
| Butene | C4H8 | ![]() |
| Pentene | C5H10 | ![]() |
| Hexene | C6H12 | ![]() |
| Heptene | C7H14 | ![]() |
| Octene | C8H16 | ![]() |
| Nonene | C9H18 | ![]() |
| Decene | C10H20 | |
Electron Dot Sructure of Ethene:

Ethene (C2H4)
Electron Dot Sructure of Propene:

Prooene (C2H4)
Similarily We can draw electron dot structure of other Akenes;
Structure of Alkynes (Triple Bond):
General formula of Alkynes: CnH2n-2
The simplest alkynes is Ethyne;
Ethyne has two carbon atoms. Hence, Using the formula;
Putting n = 2 for Ethyne,
C2H2x2-2 = C2H2
∴ Ethyne = C2H2
Similarily we can find Propyne;
Putting n=3 for Propyne;
C3H2x3-2 = C3H4
∴ Propyne = C3H4
Alkynes:
| Name of Alkenes | Molecular Formula | Condensed structural Formula |
| Ethyne | C2H2 | CH≡CH |
| Propyne | C3H4 | CH≡CCH3 |
| 1-Butyne | C4H6 | CH≡CCH2CH3 |
| 1-Pentyne | C5H8 | CH≡CCH2CH2CH3 |
| 1-Hexyne | C6H10 | CH≡CCH2CH2CH2CH3 |
| 1-Heptyne | C7H12 | CH≡CCH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 |
| 1-Octyne | C8H14 | CH≡CCH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 |
| 1-Nonyne | C9H16 | CH≡CCH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 |
| 1-Decyne | C10H18 | CH≡CCH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 |
Long chain formula is abbreviated as bellow;
[Nonyne] CH≡CCH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 can be written as
CH≡C (CH2)6CH3
similarily;
[Decyne] CH≡CCH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 can be written as
CH≡C (CH2)7CH3
Defferences between saturated and unsaturated carbon compound:
| Saturated Compound | Unsaturated Compound |
|
1. It has single bond between carbon atoms. 2. There occurs substitution reaction in it. 3. Example: Alkanes. 4. They are less reactive than the unsaturated carbon compound. |
1. It has double and triple bond between carbon atoms. 2. There occurs addition reaction in it. 3. Example: Alkenes, Alkynes. 4. They are more reactive than the saturated carbon compounds. |
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