Question

Why are carbon and its compounds used as fuels for most applications?

Answer 1

Hint: Carbon is a well-known abundant element. It has an atomic number of 6. The electronic configuration of carbon is $\left[ {{\rm{He}}} \right]{\rm{2}}{{\rm{s}}^{\rm{2}}}{\rm{2}}{{\rm{p}}^{\rm{2}}}$. Carbon has atomic mass of 12.0107 u.

Complete step-by-step solution:
Carbon is placed in group 14 of the periodic table. Carbon and its compounds consist of the maximum number of hydrogen and carbon. This makes them have high calorific value. So, most of the compounds of carbon release high amounts of energy. Saturated hydrocarbons burn with a clean flame without any smoke and thus are environment friendly. Because of this, carbon and carbon compounds are used as good fuels.

Additional information:
Carbon is the most important constituent for the resources of fossil fuels such as petroleum, oil shade, coal gas, coal tar, coal, ethanol, petroleum, ethane, LPG, CNG etc. The two main carbon fuels are fossil fuels and biofuels. Biofuels are extracted from organic matter and are then harvested. Fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil are derived from the ground. Biofuels also take part in the carbon cycle, photosynthesizing carbon dioxide. Burning of both biofuels and fossil fuels produces carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is toxic, and it can kill a person on mixing with the haemoglobin in the blood, on increasing the concentration of carbon monoxide, concentration in the body. Biofuels and fossil fuels also produce other air pollutants depending on the fuel.

Note: Students may get confused about which are carbon-based fuels. Two most important carbon-based fuels are fossil fuels and biofuels. Carbon and carbon compounds are used as good fuel.