Properties | More Info | Isotopes | Allotropes | Spectra
Compounds | Reactions | Production
Atomic: M.A.C. | Reference
Diagrams: Shell | Atomic Radius | Electron || Images
Reactions of Carbon
Reactions with water
Carbon, either as graphite or diamond does not react with water under normal conditions. Under more forceful conditions, the reaction becomes important. In industry, water is blown through hot coke. The resulting gas is called water gas and is a mixture of hydrogen (H2, 50%), carbon monoxide (CO, 40%), carbon dioxide (CO2, 5%), nitrogen and methane (N2 + CH4, 5%). It is an important feedstock gas for the chemical industry.
  C + H2OCO + H2
This reaction is endothermic which means that the coke cools down during the reaction. To counteract this, the steam flow is replaced by air to reheat the coke allowing further reaction.
Reactions with air
Carbon, as graphite, burns in oxygen to form gaseous carbon(IV) dioxide. Carbon, as diamond, also burns in air when heated to 600-800°C to also form carbon(IV) oxide.
  C(s) + O2(g)CO2(g)
When the air or oxygen is restricted then incomplete combustion to carbon monoxide (CO) occurs.
  2C(s) + O2(g)2CO(g)
Reactions with halogens
Graphite reacts with fluorine (but none of the other halogens) at high temperatures to make a mixture of carbon tetrafluoride, CF4, together with some C2F6 and C5F12.
  C(s) + excess F2(g)CF4(g) + C2F6 + C5F12
Reactions with acids
Graphite reacts with hot concentrated nitric acid to form mellitic acid, C6(CO2H)6.
 
Reduction Potentials
Balanced half-reaction E0 / V
CO2(g) + 2H+ + 2e-CO(g) + H2O -0.12
2CO2(g) + 2H+ + 2e-H2C2O4 -0.49
CO2(g) + 2H+ + 2e-HCOOH -0.20
CNO- + 2H2O + 2e-CN- + 2OH- -0.97
2HCNO + 2H+ + 2e-(CN)2(g) + 2H2O +0.33
(CN)2(g) + 2H+ + 2e-2HCN +0.37
C6H4O2 + 2H+ + 2e-C6H4(OH)2 +0.696
C6H4O2 + 2H+ + 2e-C6H4(OH)2 +0.696
C6H4O2 + 2H+ + 2e-C6H4(OH)2 +0.696
C6H4O2 + 2H+ + 2e-C6H4(OH)2 +0.696