Question

Carbon, Group $\left( {14} \right)$ element in the Periodic Table is known to form compounds with many elements. Write the name of a compound of Carbon formed with Oxygen (Group $16$ of Periodic Table).

Answer 1

We should know that the element carbon belongs to group $14$ of the periodic table and the element oxygen belongs to group $16$ of the periodic table. Knowing the valency of elements belonging to each group will prove to be helpful to solve this question.

Complete answer:
Carbon is the first member of group $14$ or ${{IVA}}$ of the periodic table. It consists of the following five elements carbon, silicon, germanium, tin and lead. Carbon and silicon are non-metals, germanium is a metalloid and tin and lead are two metals.
The electronic configuration of carbon $({{C}})$ is, $\left[ {{{He}}} \right]{{ 2}}{{{s}}^2}{{ 2}}{{{p}}^2}$. Carbon and silicon, being the most abundant elements on the earth’s crust, combine with a lot of other elements to form a wide variety of compounds.
The presence of $4$ electrons in the valence shell or outermost shell of these elements, leads to a possibility that they can either donate $4$ electrons or gain $4$ electrons to complete their octet. But, the formation of ${{{M}}^{4 + }}$ or ${{{M}}^{4 - }}$ ions
require a huge amount of energy which is normally unavailable during the normal course of reactions. So the only possibility for them is to exhibit tetravalent covalent nature, in which $4$ electron pairs have to be shared with a single or multiple elements to satisfy their octet.
Oxygen is the first member of group $16$ or ${{VIA}}$ of the periodic table. It consists of the following five elements oxygen, sulphur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium. Oxygen is a gas while other elements in the oxygen family are solids.
The electronic configuration of oxygen is, $\left[ {{{He}}} \right]{{ 2}}{{{s}}^2}{{ 2}}{{{p}}^4}$ . Oxygen combines with a number of elements in different ratios to form monoxides, dioxides, trioxides, peroxides, superoxides etc.
Oxygen being the first and the smallest member in the family exhibits some anomalous properties due to its high electronegativity, high ionisation energy and absence of ${{d - }}$ orbitals in the valence shell. The most common oxidation state of oxygen is $- 2$ . It also shows oxidation states of $- 1, + 2, + 4, + 6$ etc.
Reaction of oxygen with carbon
Oxygen gas reacts with carbon in the presence of heat to form carbon dioxide ( ${{C}}{{{O}}_2}$ ) gas, due to complete combustion of carbon.
${{C + }}{{{O}}_2}{{ }}\xrightarrow{\Delta }{{ C}}{{{O}}_2}$
In case of incomplete combustion of carbon, carbon monoxide ( ${{CO}}$ ) gas will be produced.
${{2C + }}{{{O}}_2}{{ }}\xrightarrow{\Delta }{{ 2CO}}$

**Hence, a compound of carbon formed with oxygen is carbon dioxide ( ${{C}}{{{O}}_2}$ ).** **Note:** Oxygen is a gas which does not burn by itself but helps in burning. It promotes combustion. It is highly stable in nature with a very high bond dissociation energy. Carbon exhibits allotropy, i.e., exists more than one form differing in physical properties but having almost the same chemical nature.