Chemistry

Give reasons for the following:

  1. Diamond & graphite are allotropic modifications of carbon.

  2. It is dangerous to stand behind a running engine of a vehicle.

  3. Both CO2 & SO2 turn lime water milky. Moist potassium permanganate paper, helps in distinguishing the two gases.

  4. Carbon monoxide and not carbon dioxide is a highly poisonous gas.

  5. Lime water finds application for testing both carbon dioxide & carbon monoxide gas individually.

Carbon

15 Likes

Answer

  1. Diamond & graphite are different in atomic arrangement in the crystal structure of the element. Hence they differ in physical properties but are forms of the same element carbon, and hence have similar chemical properties and are called allotropic forms of carbon.

  2. It is dangerous to stand behind a running engine of a vehicle since in exhaust fumes carbon monoxide is present due to incomplete combustion of fuel in the engine.

  3. SO2 turns potassium permanganate paper from purple to colourless whereas CO2 does not. Hence, the two gases can be distinguished.

  4. Carbon monoxide has a very strong affinity for haemoglobin, binding to it about 200-250 times more strongly than oxygen to form a stable compound called carboxyhaemoglobin which prevents the haemoglobin from carrying oxygen efficiently. Carbon dioxide also combines with haemoglobin to form carbaminohaemoglobin but its affinity for haemoglobin is much weaker compared to oxygen and carbon monoxide. This makes carbon monoxide and not carbon dioxide a highly poisonous gas.

  5. When carbon dioxide is bubbled into lime water, the lime water turns milky due to the formation of insoluble calcium carbonate.
    Ca(OH)2 + CO2 ⟶ CaCO3 ↓ + H2O
    When CO2 is bubbled in excess the milkiness disappears due to the formation of soluble calcium bicarbonate [Ca(HCO3)2]
    CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 ⟶ Ca(HCO3)2
    On the other hand lime water does not directly react with carbon monoxide.
    CO + lime water ⟶ No milkiness.
    However, on ignition, carbon monoxide burns with a pale blue flame forming carbon dioxide which reacts with lime water.

Answered By

12 Likes


Related Questions