Question

Carbon bonds to many elements other than itself.(a) Name six elements that commonly bond to carbon in inorganic compounds. (b) Which of these elements are heteroatoms?(c) Which of these elements are more electronegative than carbon? Less electronegative?(d) How does bonding of carbon to heteroatoms increase the number of organic compounds?

Short answer

The answer is,

(a) S, O, N, Ca, C, H

(b) S, O, N, Ca

(c) S, O, and N, are more electronegative and Ca, and H is less electronegative.

(d) By the formation of a large number of compounds.

Step-by-step solution

 Carbon

Carbon is an atom of atomic number six. It has four valence electrons. Organic compounds are compounds containing major carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms, etc. The carbon atom is hence a major substituent for the universe.

Subpart (a)

The S, O, N, Ca, C, and H are the elements that commonly bond to carbon in inorganic compounds.

Subpart (b)

The S, O, N and Ca are the atoms which are heteroatoms. Heteroatoms are the atoms found in inorganic compounds other than carbon and hydrogen.

Subpart (c)

The S, O, and N, are more electronegative atoms and Ca, and H is less electronegative atoms compared to the carbon atom.

Subpart (d)

The formation of different bonds within carbon and heteroatoms leads to the formation of a large number of compounds.