CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CARBON
(i) Reaction with oxygen: Carbon has a great affinity for oxygen. In the excess supply of oxygen, it forms carbon dioxide. In the limited supply of oxygen, it forms carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas.
(ii) Reaction with hydrogen: Carbon reacts with hydrogen at 500°C and 250 atmospheric pressure to form a mixture of hydrocarbons like ethane, methane etc.
(iii) Carbon as a reducing agent:
(a) Carbon reduces metal oxides to form metal and carbon monoxide.
ZnO + C → Zn + CO
(b) Carbon reduces concentrated sulphuric acid to form SO2 and cone, nitric acid to form NO2.
