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Question

Carbon a member of group 14 forms a large no. of carbon compounds estimated to be about three million. Why is this property not exhibited by other elements of this group? Explain


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Solution

Carbon(C) is the first element of group 14 and it has smaller nuclei which enable it to hold tightly a shared pair of electrons.

Carbon has some specific features which enable it to form such a large amount of compounds and a long chain.

The special properties of carbon: The special properties of carbon are as follows-

  • Tetra valency: Carbon has 4 electrons in its outer shell due to which it needs 4 more electrons to complete its octet.

Valency of carbon- 2, 4

Accepting 4 electrons or losing 4 electrons are very high energy required processes that are not possible for any atom so carbon shares its 4 electrons to form a covalent bond and that is one of the reasons for the high level of carbon compounds.

  • Catenation: Carbon has a very special property of self-linking by which carbon forms a very long chain which is called as catenation property of carbon.

For example, Soap(C17H35COONa) etc.

  • Isomerism: Carbon has one more special property that is isomerism. The same collection of atoms and bonds, but in a different geometrical arrangement within the molecule, makes a molecule with a different shape and hence different properties. These different molecules are called isomers.

  • Multiple bonds: Carbon can form a single bond by sharing one electron and can form a double bond by sharing two electrons, can also form a triple bond by sharing three electrons.

That is all the reason why carbon has such a large no. of carbon compounds.


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