(a) State the reason why:

(i) carbon compounds have low melting and boiling points.

(ii) carbon compounds do not conduct electricity.

(iii) carbon can form only covalent compounds.

(a) (i) Carbon compounds have low melting and boiling points because the intermolecular forces between the molecules are weak.

(ii) Carbon compounds do not conduct electricity because they do not have ions.

(iii) Carbon can form only covalent compounds because it has four valence electrons and can share these electrons with other atoms to form covalent bonds.

(b) A homologous series is a series of carbon compounds with similar chemical properties but with different molecular masses. The difference in molecular mass between the two consecutive members of a homologous series is 14 amu.

(i) Melting and boiling points increase with increase in molecular mass.

(ii) Chemical properties remain similar with increase in molecular mass.