Oxidation: (Reaction with oxygen)
Carbon combines with oxygen to form its oxides like carbon monoxide (CO) and carbondioxide (CO₂) with evolution of heat.
Organic carbon compounds like hydrocarbon also undergo oxidation to form oxides and steam with evolution of heat and flame. This is otherwise called combustion.
2C_(s)+ O_2(g) ➝ 2CO_(g) + heat
C_(s)+ O_2(g) ➝ CO_2(g) + heat
CH_4(s)+ 2O_2(g) ➝ CO_2(g) + 2H₂O_(g) + heat
Reaction with steam:
Carbon reacts with steam to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This mixture is called water gas.
C_(s) + H₂O_(g) ➝ CO_(g) + H_2(g)
Reaction with sulphur:
With sulphur, carbon forms its disulphide at high temperature
C_(s) + S_(g) ➝ CS_2(g)
Reaction with metals :
At elevated temperatures, carbon reacts with some metals like iron, tungsten, Titanium, etc to form their carbides. Tungesten+Carbon➝Tungsten carbide
W + C ➝ WC

1. Catenation is binding of an element to itself or with other elements through covalent bonds to form open chain or closed chain compounds.
2. Carbon is the most common element which undergoes catenation and forms long chain compounds.
3. Carbon atoms links repeatedly to itself through covalent bond to form linear chain, branched chain or ring structure.

4. This property of carbon itself is the reason for the presence of large number of organic carbon compounds.
5. Ex: Starch, Cellulose contain chains of hundreds of carbon atoms.
6. Plastic we use in our daily life are macromolecules of catenated carbon compounds.

All the materials are burned by the help of oxygen. The carbon content is less in the less aerated room. So the carbon fuel is added to the atmosphere due to incomplete combustion of fuels, it forms carbon monoxide. It will affect our health. So carbon fuel burnt in less aerated room is dangerous.

1. In the Biosphere all the living things are made up of carbon compounds.
2. All the fossil fuels are also made up of carbon like hydro carbon.
3. In R biogeochemical cycle carbon is exchanged among biosphere, geosphere; hydrosphere and atmosphere of the Earth.
4. It is the main compound of nitrogen cycle, water cycle. So, it is mostly in combined state.