Carbon and its Compounds Mind Map

A covalent bond is a chemical bond formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.

While answering exam questions, always mention electron sharing and outer-shell stability, not electron transfer.

Catenation is the ability of carbon atoms to link with one another to form long chains, branched chains, and rings.

When a question asks why carbon compounds are so numerous, mention catenation and the strength of the carbon-carbon bond.

A saturated hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon in which all the carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds.

If a hydrocarbon has only single C-C bonds, it is saturated even before you check its family name.

An unsaturated hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon that contains at least one double bond or triple bond between carbon atoms.

Look for C=C or C≡C. If either is present, the hydrocarbon is unsaturated.

A functional group is the atom or group of atoms in an organic compound that gives it its characteristic properties and reactions.

First spot the functional group, then decide the family, name, and likely reaction.

A homologous series is a family of organic compounds with the same functional group and the same general formula, where successive members differ by a CH2 group.

When comparing two compounds, check the functional group first and then see whether the formulas differ by CH2.

Ethanol is a simple alcohol with formula C2H5OH.

In answers, write both the formula and the functional group: C2H5OH, alcohol, -OH.

Ethanoic acid is a carboxylic acid with formula CH3COOH.

Whenever you see -COOH, think carboxylic acid and acidic behaviour.

Saponification is the reaction in which an ester, usually present in fats or oils, reacts with a base such as sodium hydroxide to form soap and alcohol.

Remember the product pair clearly: ester plus alkali gives soap and alcohol.

A micelle is a tiny spherical cluster formed by soap molecules in water, with hydrophilic heads facing outward and hydrophobic tails pointing inward.

Remember the arrangement: tails inward toward grease, heads outward toward water.