हिंदी
Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary EducationHSC Science Class 12

Group 14 Elements - The Carbon Family

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Estimated time: 8 minutes
CBSE: Class 12

Key Points: Group 14 Elements - The Carbon Family

General electronic configuration: ns² np²

Element Symbol Configuration
Carbon C [He] 2s² 2p²
Silicon Si [Ne] 3s² 3p²
Germanium Ge [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²
Tin Sn [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p²
Lead Pb [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²
  • Size & Energy Trends: Down the group, atomic and ionic radii increase, while ionisation energy decreases.
  • Oxidation States: Show +4 and +2 states → +4 stable at top (C, Si), +2 becomes stable down the group (Sn, Pb) due to inert pair effect.
  • Metallic Character: Increases down the group → C is non-metal, Si/Ge metalloids, Sn/Pb metals.
  • Covalent Nature: Tendency to form covalent compounds decreases down the group as metallic character increases.
  • Anomalous Behaviour of Carbon: Due to small size, high electronegativity, absence of d-orbitals, and high catenation.
  • Catenation & Bonding: Carbon shows maximum catenation and strong covalent bonding, forming chains and rings.

Allotropes of Carbon:

  • Crystalline: Diamond (hardest), Graphite (conducts electricity), Fullerene (spherical)
  • Amorphous: Coke, Charcoal (adsorbent), Lampblack (~98–99% carbon)
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