CBSE · Class 10 · Science · Chapter 4
Carbon and its Compounds — Class 10 Science (CBSE) explained
- Board exam 2026-27
- 4 lessons
- 35 scenes
- About 27 min
- Updated
Quick answer
Carbon and its Compounds is Chapter 4 of CBSE Class 10 Science. It covers carbon in everyday life, methane and covalent properties, rings and hydrocarbon classes, heteroatoms and functional groups, combustion products and energy and substitution reactions. AI Lessons teaches it in 4 narrated lessons (about 27 minutes) with an AI tutor and board-pattern practice.
What you’ll learn
Lesson 1: Why Carbon Shares Electrons
6 min- Carbon Connects Everyday Materials
- Why Carbon Shares Rather Than Transfers Four Electrons
- One Shared Pair Makes a Single Bond
- Two Shared Pairs or Three
- Methane and the Properties of Covalent Molecules
- The Same Element, Different StructuresNot assessed
- Two Features Make Carbon Versatile
- Use Valency to Determine the Carbon Bond
Lesson 2: Reading and Naming Carbon Compounds
6 min- Extend the Straight Carbon Chain
- One Molecular Formula, Two Structures
- Rings Can Be Saturated or Unsaturated
- Functional Groups Give Characteristic Properties
- A Family with a Repeating Difference
- Similar Chemistry, Gradual Physical Changes
- Start with the Chain, Then Add a Prefix
- Change the Ending to Name the Group or Bond
Lesson 3: How Carbon Compounds React
6 min- Combustion Releases Heat and Light
- Air Supply Changes the Flame
- Why a Flame AppearsNot assessed
- Fossil Fuels Come from Ancient Biomass
- Oxidising an Alcohol to an Acid
- Addition Converts Unsaturated Chains to Saturated Chains
- Substitution Replaces an Atom
- Ethanol as a Solvent and Fuel
Lesson 4: Ethanol, Ethanoic Acid and Cleaning
9 min- Ethanol, Methanol and Denatured Alcohol
- Two Reactions of Ethanol
- Ethanoic Acid: Vinegar and Weak Acidity
- An Acid and an Alcohol Form an Ester
- Saponification Produces an Alcohol and a Salt
- Ethanoic Acid Shows Familiar Acid Reactions
- Soap Connects Water with Oily Dirt
- Micelles Lift Dirt and Keep It Suspended
- Why Detergents Work in Hard Water
- Model the Molecules and Observe Soap Preparation
- Recap: Explain Structures, Reactions and Cleaning
Key concepts
- Carbon in everyday life
- Carbon's importance is much greater than these small amounts suggest.
- Methane and covalent properties
- The bonds within a covalent molecule are strong.
- Rings and hydrocarbon classes
- Compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen are hydrocarbons.
- Heteroatoms and functional groups
- An element replacing hydrogen is called a heteroatom. A heteroatom, or a group containing it, gives the compound characteristic properties.
- Combustion products and energy
- Combustion is an oxidation reaction, and these equations connect the products with the energy released.
- Substitution reactions
- The reaction is called substitution because one type of atom or group takes the place of another.
- Alcohol-related hazards
- Industrial ethanol is made unfit for drinking by adding poisonous substances such as methanol.
- Ethanoic acid's properties
- Carboxylic acids are acidic, but they are weak acids.
Exam focus
- Board exam
- CBSE assesses this chapter in the 2026-27 year-end board examination.
- Syllabus
- Carbon and its Compounds: Covalent bonds - formation and properties of covalent compounds, Versatile nature of carbon, Hydrocarbons - saturated and unsaturated Homologous series. Nomenclature of alkanes, alkenes, alkyne and carbon compounds containing functional groups (halogens, alcohol, ketones, aldehydes). Chemical properties of carbon compounds (combustion, oxidation, addition and substitution reaction). Ethanol and Ethanoic acid (only properties and uses), soaps and detergents.
- Not assessed
- These parts go beyond the 2026-27 syllabus and are taught for understanding only: The Same Element, Different Structures and Why a Flame Appears.
- Exam note
- Ethanol and ethanoic acid: only properties and uses.
- Paper pattern
- 80 marks, 3 hours, 39 questions in three sections (A Biology, B Chemistry, C Physics); internal assessment 20. Units: I Chemical Substances 25, II World of Living 25, III Natural Phenomena 12, IV Effects of Current 13, V Natural Resources 5.
- Question style
- About 50% of board questions are competency-focused: case-based, source-based, integrated, data interpretation, situational and application-oriented.
- Practice in the app
- 106 board-pattern questions with marking schemes: 32 multiple choice (1 mark), 14 assertion–reason (1 mark), 27 very short answer (2 marks), 17 short answer (3 marks), 5 long answer (5 marks) and 11 case-based (4 marks).
Sample questions with marking points
Board-pattern questions from the AI Lessons practice set for this chapter. The marking points show what an examiner looks for; full model answers are in the app.
Very short answer2 marks
Name the compounds represented by (a) CH₃-CH=CH₂ and (b) CH₃-C≡C-H. Explain how the carbon-carbon bond in each structure determines its ending.
Marking points
- (a) Correct name: propene.0.5
- (a) The carbon-carbon double bond requires replacing 'ane' with 'ene'.0.5
- (b) Correct name: propyne.0.5
- (b) The carbon-carbon triple bond requires replacing 'ane' with 'yne'.0.5
Short answer3 marks
A learner treats CH₃COOC₂H₅ with sodium hydroxide and calls the salt formed a soap because the reaction is saponification. Write the reaction, name both products and explain the error in the learner's conclusion.
Marking points
- Writes CH₃COOC₂H₅ --NaOH- → C₂H₅OH+CH₃COONa.1
- Names ethanol.0.5
- Names sodium ethanoate or sodium acetate.0.5
- Explains that sodium ethanoate has a short carbon chain, whereas soaps are salts of long-chain carboxylic acids.1
Frequently asked questions
What does Carbon and its Compounds cover in Class 10 Science?
It covers carbon in everyday life, methane and covalent properties, rings and hydrocarbon classes, heteroatoms and functional groups, combustion products and energy and substitution reactions. AI Lessons teaches it in 4 lessons: Why Carbon Shares Electrons, Reading and Naming Carbon Compounds, How Carbon Compounds React and Ethanol, Ethanoic Acid and Cleaning.
Is Carbon and its Compounds in the CBSE Class 10 board exam?
Yes. CBSE assesses Carbon and its Compounds in the 2026-27 year-end board examination. 2 short parts go beyond the syllabus and are marked as not assessed.
How many electrons in total are shared between the two atoms in O₂ and N₂, respectively?
4 and 6. O₂ has two shared pairs, containing four electrons, while N₂ has three shared pairs, containing six electrons.
What is methane?
Methane is a fuel and a major component of biogas and compressed natural gas. A carbon atom shares electrons with four hydrogen atoms to form methane.
What is a heteroatom?
An element replacing hydrogen is called a heteroatom. A heteroatom, or a group containing it, gives the compound characteristic properties.
Which suffix is used to name a three-carbon compound containing an aldehyde functional group?
The answer is -al. The aldehyde suffix is -al, giving the name propanal.
What is combustion?
Combustion is an oxidation reaction, and these equations connect the products with the energy released.
How does AI Lessons teach Carbon and its Compounds?
As 4 narrated, animated lessons (35 scenes, about 27 minutes in all), with an AI tutor that knows the step you are on and board-pattern practice with marking schemes. The full lessons open after sign-in on an AI Lessons account.
Watch the full lesson
Carbon and its Compounds, as a narrated, animated lesson
4 lessons · 35 animated scenes · about 27 minutes, with an AI tutor that knows the step you are on and 106 board-pattern questions with marking schemes.
Lessons open after sign-in. A parent or guardian holds the account and adds each child.