Question

What is the formula of carbon suboxide? (a) \(\mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}\) (b) \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}\) (c) \(\mathrm{CO}\) (d) \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\)

Short answer

The formula for carbon suboxide is \(\mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}\).

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Name of the Compound

The compound in question is carbon suboxide. The prefix "sub-" often refers to a lower oxidation state or fewer oxygen atoms than the usual oxide.

Analyze the Options

Examine each given option: - (a) \(\mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}\): Contains 3 carbon atoms and 2 oxygen atoms. - (b) \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}\): Contains 2 carbon atoms and 4 oxygen atoms. - (c) \(\mathrm{CO}\): Contains 1 carbon atom and 1 oxygen atom. - (d) \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\): Contains 1 carbon atom and 2 oxygen atoms.

Consider Common Names and Formulas

Carbon suboxide is a specific compound with a lower-known but specific formula. It is not just carbon monoxide (\(\mathrm{CO}\)) or carbon dioxide (\(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\)). It involves multiple carbon atoms.

Match the Common Formula of Carbon Suboxide

Carbon suboxide is known to be \(\mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}\), which matches option (a). This formula is consistent with the suboxide characteristic, involving fewer oxygen molecules in comparison to the available carbons.

Key concepts

Understanding the Chemical Formula

A chemical formula is a concise way of expressing information about the constituents of a compound. It indicates the type and number of atoms involved. For carbon suboxide, the formula is \(\mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}\). This means it contains 3 carbon atoms and 2 oxygen atoms.

The formula itself tells us a lot about the compound. The prefix 'sub-' in carbon suboxide suggests there is something less than the usual present in the formula, often fewer oxygen atoms compared to carbon amounts.

• Carbon: Represented by the letter C.
• Oxygen: Represented by the letter O.

Recognizing a correct chemical formula helps in identifying not just the elements within a compound, but also their quantities, setting the foundation for further understanding of chemical reactions.

Understanding Oxidation States

Oxidation state is a number that represents the total number of electrons that an atom either gains or loses to form a chemical bond with another atom. In the context of carbon suboxide, the term 'sub-' implies a lower oxidation state of carbon.

Carbon can have several oxidation states ranging from -4 to +4, but in carbon suboxide, it is in a state that involves sharing fewer electrons with oxygen than in more oxidized compounds such as carbon dioxide.

• In compounds like \(\mathrm{CO}\), carbon is in the +2 oxidation state.
• In \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\), carbon is at its +4 oxidation state, indicating a more oxidized form.
• In carbon suboxide \(\mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}\), the carbon atoms share electrons, resulting in a particular and unique oxidation state that falls between these more common states.

Exploring Oxide Compounds

Oxide compounds are chemical compounds where at least one oxygen atom is bonded to another element. They are categorized into different types based on the nature of the other element bonded with oxygen.

• Cations like metals form basic oxides.
• Non-metal oxides, like those formed with carbon, are often acidic in nature.

Carbon, a non-metal, forms several oxides:

- Carbon monoxide (\(\mathrm{CO}\)) is a simple compound with one carbon atom. It is fairly reactive and acts as a reducing agent in many chemical reactions.

- Carbon dioxide (\(\mathrm{CO}_2\)) is the more oxidized form and has widespread applications like in respiration and photosynthesis.

- Carbon suboxide (\(\mathrm{C}_3 \mathrm{O}_2\)) is less common and forms a part of the subset of oxide compounds with fewer oxygen atoms compared to carbon, reflecting its 'suboxide' classification.
This unique structure impacts its reactive properties differently than standard oxides.