CBSE Class 10 Science • Chapter 4 • Revision 2026
Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 Worksheet
Download the Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 worksheet with answers for CBSE Science revision and practice. Practise MCQs with solutions, assertion–reason questions, case-based questions, and very short, short and long-answer questions. Revise covalent bonding, functional groups, homologous series, important reactions, ethanol, ethanoic acid, soaps and detergents.
Carbon compounds are found in fuels, food, medicines, clothing and cleaning products. Their variety comes largely from carbon’s ability to form four covalent bonds and bond with other carbon atoms. Understanding these ideas helps you explain structures and reactions rather than memorising them separately.
This Carbon and its Compounds worksheet supports active practice: identify a functional group, name a compound, complete a reaction and explain an observation. Attempt the worksheet PDF independently, then use the solutions to check your reasoning and correct mistakes.
Question Types in the Worksheet
- MCQs with solutions: Test bonding, formulas, naming and reaction products.
- Assertion–reason questions: Evaluate statements and their explanations.
- Case-based questions: Identify compounds using observations and reactions.
- Very short answers: Recall terms, names and functional groups.
- Short answers: Explain properties and write balanced equations.
- Long answers: Describe reaction sequences and the cleaning action of soap.
Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 Short Notes
Tetravalency and Covalent Bonding
Carbon has electronic configuration 2, 4. It commonly completes its outer shell by sharing electrons and forming four covalent bonds. A single bond involves one shared electron pair, a double bond two shared pairs and a triple bond three shared pairs.
Catenation
Catenation is the ability of an element to bond with atoms of the same element. Carbon forms long chains, branched chains and rings. Together with tetravalency, this explains the large number of carbon compounds.
Saturated and Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons contain only carbon and hydrogen. Saturated hydrocarbons have only single carbon–carbon bonds. Unsaturated hydrocarbons contain at least one carbon–carbon double or triple bond. Ethane is saturated, while ethene and ethyne are unsaturated.
Check the Scope of General Formulas
Open-chain alkanes have formula CnH2n+2. Open-chain alkenes with one double bond have CnH2n, and open-chain alkynes with one triple bond have CnH2n−2. These formulas do not apply unchanged to every ring or compound with several multiple bonds.
Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 Functional Groups
A functional group is an atom or group of atoms that gives a family of organic compounds characteristic chemical behaviour. Learn the group alongside an example and its name.
| Family | Group | Example | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | –OH | CH3CH2OH | Ethanol |
| Aldehyde | –CHO | CH3CHO | Ethanal |
| Ketone | –C(=O)– within the carbon chain | CH3COCH3 | Propanone |
| Carboxylic acid | –COOH | CH3COOH | Ethanoic acid |
| Halo compound | –Cl or –Br, for example | CH3Cl | Chloromethane |
Worked Example: Identify CH3CH2OH
Number of carbon atoms = 2.
Functional group = –OH.
Two-carbon parent chain = ethane.
Alcohol suffix = –ol.
Compound name = ethanol.
Homologous Series and Structural Isomers
A homologous series contains compounds with the same functional group and a common general formula. Successive members differ by a –CH2– unit and by 14 u in molecular mass. They have similar chemical properties and a gradual change in physical properties.
Methanol, ethanol and propanol belong to the alcohol series. Structural isomers, in contrast, have the same molecular formula but different arrangements of atoms. Butane and 2-methylpropane both have formula C4H10, but their carbon skeletons differ.
Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 Important Reactions
Revise each reaction with its reactants, products and conditions. This reaction chart brings together the main patterns needed for chapter practice.
| Reaction | Equation | Condition or Key Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Complete combustion | CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O | Adequate oxygen; energy is released. |
| Addition | CH2=CH2 + H2 → CH3–CH3 | Hydrogenation using a suitable catalyst, such as nickel. |
| Substitution | CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl | Sunlight; a hydrogen atom is replaced. |
| Oxidation of ethanol | CH3CH2OH + 2[O] → CH3COOH + H2O | Suitable oxidising agent, such as alkaline potassium permanganate. |
| Ethanol with sodium | 2C2H5OH + 2Na → 2C2H5ONa + H2 | Sodium ethoxide and hydrogen form. |
| Dehydration of ethanol | CH3CH2OH → CH2=CH2 + H2O | Concentrated sulphuric acid at 443 K. |
| Esterification | CH3COOH + C2H5OH ⇌ CH3COOC2H5 + H2O | Heating with an acid catalyst. |
| Alkaline hydrolysis of an ester | CH3COOC2H5 + NaOH → CH3COONa + C2H5OH | Produces a carboxylate salt and an alcohol. |
In oxidation equations, [O] represents oxygen supplied by the oxidising agent; it is shorthand, not the formula of a separate reactant bottle. Soap manufacture involves alkaline hydrolysis of fats and oils, producing glycerol and salts of long-chain fatty acids.
Soaps, Detergents and Micelles
A soap particle has a water-attracting ionic head and a water-repelling hydrocarbon tail. In water, soap can form micelles: the tails point towards grease in the centre, while the heads face the surrounding water. This helps disperse oily dirt so it can be rinsed away.
Hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions that form insoluble salts with soap. This produces scum and reduces cleaning efficiency. Detergents generally work better in hard water because they do not form the same insoluble scum.
Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 MCQs with Answers
1. Which functional group is present in ethanol?
A. –COOH
B. –CHO
C. –OH
D. –Cl
Answer: C. Ethanol is an alcohol containing –OH.
2. What is the molecular-mass difference between successive homologues?
A. 2 u
B. 12 u
C. 14 u
D. 16 u
Answer: C. The difference is one CH2 unit: 12 + 2 = 14 u.
Assertion–Reason Practice
Assertion: Many simple molecular covalent compounds are poor conductors of electricity.
Reason: They generally lack mobile charged particles under the conditions being considered.
Answer: Both statements are true, and the reason explains the assertion.
Avoid the blanket claim that every covalent substance behaves this way. Graphite conducts, and some molecular substances form ions when dissolved in water.
Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 Case-Based Questions
Case Study: Distinguishing Ethanol and Ethanoic Acid
Two labelled samples contain ethanol and ethanoic acid. Sodium hydrogencarbonate is added separately to small portions of both. The ethanoic acid sample produces brisk effervescence.
- Identify the gas released.
- Write the balanced equation.
- Explain how the observation distinguishes the samples.
- Name the ester formed when ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid.
Answers:
The gas is carbon dioxide.
CH3COOH + NaHCO3
→ CH3COONa + H2O + CO2.
Ethanoic acid reacts with hydrogencarbonate to release the gas;
ethanol does not show this reaction under the usual test conditions.
The ester is ethyl ethanoate.
Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 Extra Questions with Answers
Why does carbon form so many compounds?
Carbon is tetravalent and forms stable bonds with other carbon atoms. These properties allow chains, branches, rings and combinations with many other elements.
Why do many molecular covalent compounds have relatively low melting points?
Their molecules are often held together by relatively weak intermolecular attractions. Melting generally overcomes these attractions rather than breaking the strong covalent bonds within each molecule.
How is addition different from substitution?
Addition introduces atoms across a multiple bond, as in hydrogenation of ethene. Substitution replaces an atom or group, as when chlorine replaces hydrogen in methane.
Important Questions and Chapter Test Practice
- Very short: Define catenation and name the functional group in ethanoic acid.
- Short answer: Explain tetravalency and covalent bonding in carbon.
- Short answer: Compare saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons.
- Short answer: Explain the characteristics of a homologous series.
- Long answer: Describe ethanol reactions with equations and conditions.
- Long answer: Explain esterification and alkaline ester hydrolysis.
- Long answer: Describe soap’s cleaning action and its behaviour in hard water.
Use the worksheet as a Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 test: attempt it first, check solutions and record your weak areas. Follow this with NCERT exercise questions and verified previous year questions. Practise naming and drawing structures as well as recalling equations.
Related Notes and Worksheets
Review Carbon and its Compounds Class 10 notes and mind map for concept revision.
Practise acid reactions using the Acids, Bases and Salts worksheet with answers . Explore the CBSE Class 10 Science worksheets for more chapter practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What question types are included in the worksheet?
The worksheet includes MCQs with solutions, assertion–reason, case-based, very short, short and long-answer questions. Use the answers to check facts, equations and explanations.
Why does carbon usually share electrons?
Losing four electrons requires a large amount of energy, while gaining four would create a highly charged ion. Sharing electrons allows carbon to complete its outer shell through covalent bonding.
Are all carbon compounds hydrocarbons?
No. Hydrocarbons contain only carbon and hydrogen. Ethanol and ethanoic acid also contain oxygen, so they are carbon compounds but not hydrocarbons.
What is the difference between ethanol and ethanoic acid?
Ethanol, C2H5OH, contains the alcohol group. Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH, contains the carboxylic acid group and releases carbon dioxide with sodium hydrogencarbonate.
What conditions are needed for esterification?
An alcohol and a carboxylic acid are heated with an acid catalyst. In the textbook example, ethanol and ethanoic acid form ethyl ethanoate and water using concentrated sulphuric acid.
Is saponification simply esterification in reverse?
Both involve esters, but the conditions and products differ. Alkaline ester hydrolysis produces a carboxylate salt and an alcohol. Soap manufacture applies this process to fats and oils to obtain long-chain fatty-acid salts.
Why does soap form scum in hard water?
Calcium and magnesium ions react with soap to form insoluble salts. These appear as scum and reduce the soap available for cleaning.
How should I describe a micelle?
Describe a cluster with hydrocarbon tails directed inward towards oily dirt and water-attracting heads directed outward. Explain how this disperses grease in water for removal.
How can I remember the chapter’s reactions?
Group them by pattern: combustion, oxidation, addition, substitution, dehydration, esterification and hydrolysis. For each, learn one example with its conditions and practise completing the equation.
What should I focus on for 2026 revision?
Revise bonding, structures, functional groups, naming, homologous series and important reactions. Include ethanol, ethanoic acid, soap and detergent questions, then use the worksheet solutions to review mistakes.
Does Carbon and its Compounds have a guaranteed chapter weightage?
Do not rely on an unofficial fixed chapter mark prediction. Consult the applicable CBSE guidance and sample paper, and prepare all prescribed topics.
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