Question

Properties of the elements are given below. Where would you locate the following elements in the periodic table?

An element that is tetravalent and forms the basis of organic chemistry

Answer 1

An element that is tetravalent and forms the basis of organic chemistry

• A tetravalent element makes four covalent chemical bonds.
• Carbon is an important constituent of all organic matter.
• The atomic number of carbon is 6 and the electronic configuration is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^2$.
• The carbon is in the second period and belongs to group 14.
• Thus one atom of carbon can make four covalent bonds, so the valency of carbon is four.

Therefore, the element that is tetravalent and forms the basis of organic chemistry is carbon which is in the second period and belongs to group 14.