Carbon is able to form four bonds with other atoms, enabling a variety of different combinations and possibilities for molecules and macromolecules, in a variety of structures and functions. All organic compounds contain carbon atoms bound to other atoms. Typically, carbon forms covalent bonds with other carbons, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur.
- Carbon and hydrogen have similar electronegativities and thus carbon-carbon bonds and carbon-hydrogen bonds are nonpolar.
- Molecules with mostly carbon-hydrogen bonds are called hydrocarbons and are not soluble in water.
To remember the electronegativity ratios for common organic compounds, don’t try to memorize the actual electronegativity. Instead, use the anagram ONCH. (Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen) which can be expanded a bit:
O>>N>C=H
Oxygen is much much more electronegative than Nitrogen.
Nitrogen is more electronegative than Carbon.
Carbon is equally electronegative to Hydrogen.
More than one atom of the same type bonded together has a neutral electronegativity.
This will make it much easier to determine the relative polarity of organic molecules.
One last thing about carbon is its ability to form very stable bonds with other atoms that last through temperature changes. Because the carbon atom is quite small, the length of the bond with other atoms is short, which is more stable than a longer bond.
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