Depto. Química Orgánica

Carbon

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15/07/2017
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Carbon occupies a very special place in the Periodic Table. It is like the Earth, which occupies a privileged place in the Solar System.
EARTHCARBON
The Earth is the right size to maintain an atmosphere.Carbon is just the right size, with four electrons in shell 2. It needs to share another four to satisfy the octet rule.
The Earth is at the appropriate distance from the Sun. Any closer would be too hot. Farther away, too cold.The valence electrons of carbon are at the right distance so that the nucleus can attract them but, at the same time, can share them and still be able to attract four other electrons from other atoms and thus form very stable bonds.
The Earth is an ideal place for the development of life. Carbon forms an infinite number of molecular structures that are the basis of life.
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The idea of ??making large constructions from small pieces is not ours: it is Nature's.
Carbon with its four bonds is the basis of the game.
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A carbon sharing its four electrons and another four of four hydrogens: methane.
But why not join one carbon to another and complete with hydrogens?
A new molecule results: ethane.
By this procedure we will never finish: propane, butane, etc. etc.
CH4
methane
CH3CH3
ethane
CH3CH2CH3
propane
CH3(CH2)2CH3
butane
The number of molecules and the shapes that can be reached (branches, rings, etc.) are infinite.
C6H12
cyclohexane
C10H16
adamantane
C6H6
benzene
C10H8
naphtalene