The reaction of CO with hydrogen at a pressure of less than 50 atm using metal catalysts at 500 - 700 K yields saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons.
\(nCO+(2n+1){ H_2 }\longrightarrow C_{ n }{ H }_{ (2n+2) }+{ nH }_{ 2 }O\)
\(nCO+2n{ H }_{ 2 }\longrightarrow { C }_{ n }{ H }_{ 2n }+{ nH }_{ 2 }O\)

In p-block elements, the first member of each group differs from the other elements of the corresponding group. The following factors are responsible for this anomalous behaviour
(i) Small size of the first member.
(ii) High ionisation enthalpy and high electronegativity.
(iii) Absence of d-orbitals in their valance shell.

Allotropism:
1. Some elements exist in more than one crystalline or molecular forms in the same physical state
(a) In Greek "allos" means ⇒ Another
(b) "trope" means ⇒ Change
2. The different forms of an element are called allotropes.
Allotropy of carbon:
Carbon exists as diamond, graphite, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene.
Graphite:
1. Graphite is the most stable allotropic form of carbon at normal temperature and pressure.
2. It is soft and conducts electricity.
3. It is composed of flat two dimensional sheets of carbon atoms.
4. Each sheet is a hexagonal.
5. It is "sp²" hybridised.
6. C-C bond length is 1.41 Å
7. Each C-atom forms three σ bonds with three neighbouring carbon atoms using three of its valence electrons and the fourth electron present in the unhybridised p-orbital form a π-bond.
8. The successive C-sheets are held together by weak Vander Waals forces.
9 The distance successive sheet is 3.40 Å.
10. It is used as a lubricant either on its own or as a graphited oil.

Diamond:
1. It is very hard.
2. It is "sp³" hybridised.
3. C-C bond length is 1.54 Å
4. It is used for sharpening hard tools, cutting glasses, making bores and rock drilling.

Fullerenes:
1. These allotropes are discrete molecules such as \(C_{32}, C_{50}, C_{60}, C_{70}, C_{76}\) etc.
2. It has cage like structure
3. The C₆₀ molecules have a "soccer" ball like structure and is called buckminster fullerene or buckyballs.
4. It has a fused ring structure consists of 20 six membered rings and 12 five membered ring.
5. Each carbon atom is "sp²" hybridised.
6. It has three σ bonds and a delocalised π bond giving aromatic character to these molecules.
7. The C-C bond distance is 1.44 Å
8. The C=C bond distance is 1.38 Å.

Carbon nanotubes:
1. Carbon nanotubes, another recently discovered allotropes, have graphite like tubes with fullerene ends.
2. Along the axis, these nanotubes are stronger than steel and conduct electricity.
3. These have many applications in nanoscale electronics, catalysis, polymers and medicine.
Graphene:
 It has a single planar sheet of "sp²" hybridised carbon atoms that are densely packed in a "honeycomb crystal" lattice.