Group-14 Elements: Carbon Family | Chemistry Class 11 - NEET PDF Download

What are Group 14 Elements?

The group 14 elements are the second group in the p-block of the periodic table. It is also called the carbon group. The members of this group are:

1. Carbon (C)
2. Silicon (Si)
3. Germanium (Ge)
4. Tin (Sn)
5. Lead (Pb)
6. Flerovium (Fl)

General Physical Properties of Group 14 Elements

1. Electronic configuration: 

   Their valence shell electronic configuration is ns² np².

2. Metallic character: 

   C and Si are non-metals, Ge is a metalloid and Sn and Pb are metals.

3. Appearance: 

   C is black. Si is light-brown, Ge is greyish, Sn and Pb are silvery white.

4. Density: 

   Density increases with an increase in atomic number due to an increase in mass per unit volume down the group.
   
   Question for Group-14 Elements: Carbon Family

   Try yourself:Which of the following group 14 elements is a metal?

   • A.

     Stannum
   • B.

     Carbon
   • C.

     Germanium
   • D.

     Silicon

   Explanation

   There are mainly five elements in the carbon family; carbon, silicon, germanium, stannum and plumbum. Carbon and silicon are non-metals, germanium is a metalloid whereas stannum, plumbum are metals.

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5. Melting points and Boiling points: 

   The melting points and boiling points decrease from carbon to lead but carbon and silicon have very high melting and boiling points due to their giant structure.

6. Oxidation state: 

   They exhibit +2 and +4 oxidation state.
   The compounds of Pb in the +4 oxidation state are powerful oxidizing agents since the +2 oxidation state of Pb is more stable due to the inert pair effect.
   The compounds in the +2 oxidation state are ionic in nature and the + 4 oxidation state are covalent in nature (According to Fajan’s rule).
   
   Question for Group-14 Elements: Carbon Family

   Try yourself:What is the fajan’s rule about?

   • A.

     electronegativity
   • B.

     ionic compounds
   • C.

     Oxidation State
   • D.

     covalent compounds

   Explanation

   The Fajan’s rule is that the compounds in the +2 oxidation state are ionic in nature and the + 4 oxidation state is covalent in nature, therefore the Fajan’s rule is about the Oxidation state and their nature of the compounds.

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7. Ionisation enthalpy: 

   It decreases from C to Sn. For Pb, it is slightly higher than Sn.

8. Electronegativity values: 

   The value decreases from C to Pb but not in a regular manner probably due to the filling of d-orbitals III and Sn and f- orbitals in Pb.

9. Catenation: 

   The greater the strength of the element-element bond, the greater is the strength of catenation. C >> Si > Ge = Sn > Pb (catenation).

10. Allotropy: 

    All the elements of this group except Pb exhibit allotropy.

11. Valency: 

    All elements exhibit tetra valency. In the case of carbon, 406 kJ mol^-1 of energy is required for the promotion of 2s – electron to 2p. The formation of two extra bonds provides this energy.

12. Atomic and ionic radii: 

    Both increase from C to Pb.
13. Multiple bonding Carbon forms pπ – pπ bonds with itself and with S, N and O. Other elements show a negligible tendency of this type due to their large size. Others form dπ – pπ multiple bonds.

Note: In cold countries, white tin changes to grey tin and results in a decrease in density. This is called tin disease or tin plague.

Chemical Properties of Group 14 Elements

1. Hydrides: 

• All members of the group form covalent hydrides. Their number and ease of formation decrease down the group.
• Hydrides of carbon are called hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes or alkynes).
• Hydrides of Si and Ge are known as silanes and germanes.
• The only hydrides of Sn and Pb are SnH₄ (stannane) and PbH₄ (plumbane).
• Their thermal stability decrease down the group.
• Their reducing character increases down the group.

2. Halides: 

• All the elements give tetrahedral and covalent halides of the type MX₄ except PbBr₄, and PbI₄.
• Thermal stability: CX₄ > SiX₄ > GeX₄ > SnX₄ > PbX₄
• Order of thermal stability with common metals: MF₄ > MCl₄ > MBr₄ > MI₄
• Except CX₄ other tetrahalides can be hydrolysed due to the presence of vacant d-orbitals.
  SiX₄ + 2H₂O → SiO₂ + 4HX.
• Ease of hydrolysis: SiX₄ > GeX₄ > SnX₄ > PbX₄
• Except for C, other elements form dihalides of the type MX₂ which are all ionic and have higher melting points and boiling points, e.g., SnCl₂ is a solid whereas SnCl₄ is a liquid at room temperature.

Note: 
SnCl₂ . 5H₂O is called bitter of tin and is used as a mordant in dyeing.

3. Oxides:

• They form two types of oxides. mono-oxides of the type MO and dioxides of the type MO₂.
  Example: CO (neutral) and SiO, GeO, SnO, PbO(all basic)
• CO₂ is linear gas at ordinary temperature. Solid CO₂ is known as dry ice or drikold. 
• SiO₂ is solid with a three-dimensional network in which Si is bonded to four oxygen atoms tetrahedrally and covalently. A mass of hydrated silica (SiO₂) formed from skeletons of minute plants, known as diatoms, is called kieselguhr. It is a highly porous material and is used in the manufacture of dynamite.
  
  Question for Group-14 Elements: Carbon Family

  Try yourself:How many types of oxides do Carbon family form?

  • A.

    9
  • B.

    4
  • C.

    3
  • D.

    2

  Explanation

  The Carbon family can form two types of oxides, mono oxides of the type MO like carbon monoxide and silicon monoxide which are all basic, it can also found the oxides of the type MO₂ where carbon dioxide and silicon dioxide are acidic and the dioxide of Germanium, silicon and plumber are amphoteric.

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Carbon

• The amount of carbon present in the earth’s atmosphere and its crust is very less. There is only 0.02% of carbon in the earth’s crust. This carbon exists as minerals like coal, carbonates and hydrogen carbonates etc. 0.03 % of the carbon exists in the atmosphere of the earth as carbon dioxide.

• Carbon is of utmost importance for our existence and it finds extensive usage in chemistry.
• Because of its indisputable importance, chemistry has been divided into two branches:
  (a) Organic Chemistry: This deals with the various compounds containing carbon.
  (b) Inorganic Chemistry: This branch deals with compounds that do not have any carbon content.
• Free states (diamond. graphite, coal etc.) and combined states (oxides, carbonates, hydrocarbons etc.)

Anomalous Behaviour of Carbon

• Since most of the first members of a group have peculiar characteristics and properties. On similar grounds, even carbon behaves differently than the other members of the group. These properties of carbon are very unique. 
• We can attribute this behaviour to carbon mainly due to:
  (i) Small size of the atom
  (ii) High electronegativity
  (iii) High ionization enthalpy
  (iv) Unavailability of d-orbital’s

Unique Properties of Carbon

1. Small Size of Carbon

• Carbon derives a lot of its properties from its small size. 
• The compounds that carbon forms are highly stable and this is also because of their small size. Due to its small size, the nucleus effectively holds on to the bonded and non-bonded electrons.

2. Tetravalency of Carbon

• Carbon exhibits tetravalency. It means it can share four electrons to complete its octet. Thus, we know it bonds to four different monovalent atoms. 
• Carbon forms a large variety of compounds with oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, halogens. This results in a different set of compounds that have distinctive characteristics and properties.
• Carbon has the availability of only s and p orbitals. Therefore, it can hold only four pairs of electrons in its valence shell. Thus, we can restrict the covalence to four. However, the other elements in the group can easily grow their covalence due to the availability of d-orbitals.
  

3. Catenation

• One of the unique properties of Carbon is its ability to form long carbon chains. It implies that carbon attaches with other carbon atoms to form long carbon chains. This property is known as catenation. Sometimes, this chain could be as big as to have a total of 70-80 carbons. 
• This gives rise to a variety of complex compounds. Some of the compounds have a straight carbon chain while some others have branched carbon chain or rings.
• The carbon compounds having only a single bond are saturated hydrocarbons. On the other hand, the compounds with the double or triple bond are unsaturated hydrocarbons.
• As we move down the group, the size of the elements increases. This results in decreasing electronegativity. Thus, the propensity to show catenation also decreases. This can be clearly observed from bond enthalpy values. 
• The catenation order: C >> Si > Ge >> Sn.

4. Electronegativity

• Additionally, carbon has an extraordinary capacity to shape pp – pp multiple bonds with itself and with different molecules. This can also be related to its smaller size and high electronegativity. Some of the examples would include C = C, C° C, C = O, C = S and C° N.
• As a matter of fact, the heavier elements don’t shape pp – pp bonds. This is mainly because of the reason that their nuclear orbitals are too vast and diffused to have viable overlapping.
  Example: Lead does not indicate catenation.

Q. Give some practical uses of carbon.

Ans. There are many important uses of carbon. Some of them are:

• We use impure carbon in the form of charcoal (from wood) and coke (from coal) in metal smelting.
• Graphite is a common use in pencils. We also use graphite to make brushes in electric motors and in furnace linings.
• Activated charcoal finds its usage in purification and filtration in respirators and kitchen extractor hoods.
• Industrial diamonds are a common tool for cutting rocks and drilling.

Allotropic Forms of Carbon

The crystalline forms include:

1. Diamond: 

• It is the hardest and has a three-dimensional polymeric structure in which the hybridization of C is sp³. 
• It is a covalent solid. 
• Melting point = 3650 °C
• Density = 3.51 g/cm³ 
• Bad Conductor of heat and electricity.
  

2. Graphite: 

• It is dark grey having hexagonal plates, hybridization of each C is sp². 
• It is a good conductor of heat and electricity due to the presence of free electrons. 
• It was also known as the black lead. 
• It is a very good lubricant.
• Aqua dag: Suspensions of graphite in water.
• Oil dag: Suspension of graphite in oil lubricants.
  Structure of Graphite

3. Fullerenes: 

• These are the only pure form of carbon. 
• C₆₀ molecule contains 12 five-membered rings and 20 six-membered rings. 
• The five-membered rings are connected to six-membered rings while six-membered rings are connected to both five and six-membered rings. 
• These are used in microscopic ball bearings, lightweight batteries, in the synthesis of new plastics and new drugs.
  
  
  Question for Group-14 Elements: Carbon Family

  Try yourself:Which of the following allotropes of carbon are hard in nature?

  • A.

    Charcoal
  • B.

    Diamond
  • C.

    Graphite
  • D.

    Fullerenes

  Explanation

  The crystalline form of allotropic carbon is diamond, it is the hardest and has a three-dimensional polymeric structure in which hybridization of carbon is sp³. It is a covalent solid, melting point is 3650-degree centigrade and it is also a bad conductor of heat and electricity.

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Amorphous forms of carbon are:

• Coal: The different forms of coal are peat (60 % C), lignite (70 % C), Bituminous (78 % C), Semi Bituminous (83 % C) and anthracite (90 % C). Bituminous is the most common variety of coal.
• Coke is obtained by the destructive distillation of coal.
  
• Charcoal or wood charcoal: It is obtained by heating wood strongly in absence of air. When heated with steam, it becomes more activated. It is used to remove colouring matters and odoriferous gases.
• Bone black or animal charcoal It is obtained by destructive distillation of bones in iron retort. By-products are bone oil or pyridine. It is used as an adsorbent. On burning, it gives bone ash which is calcium phosphate and used in the manufacture of phosphorous and phosphoric acid.
• Lamp-black It is obtained by burning vegetable oils in a limited supply of air. It is used in the manufacture of printing ink, black paint, varnish and carbon paper.
• Carbon-black It is obtained by burning natural gas in a limited supply of air. It is added to a rubber mixture for making automobile tyres.
  
  Question for Group-14 Elements: Carbon Family

  Try yourself:Which of the following is an amorphous allotrope of carbon?

  • A.

    Diamond
  • B.

    Fullerenes
  • C.

    Graphite
  • D.

    Lampblack

  Explanation

  Diamond, fullerenes come and graphite are crystalline allotropes of carbon whereas lampblack is an amorphous form of carbon, which is obtained by burning vegetable oils in a limited supply of air and it is also used in the manufacture of printing ink, black paint, varnish, and carbon paper.

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Gaseous Forms of Carbon

1. Coal Gas:

   
   Preparation: By destructive distillation of coal.
   Composition: H₂ = 45 – 55%, N₂ = 2 – 12%, CH₄ = 25 – 35%, CO₂ = 0 – 3%, CO = 4 – 11%, O₂ = 1 – 1.5%, Ethylene, acetylene, benzene, etc. = 3 – 5 %
   Uses: It is used as an illuminant, as fuel and to provide an inert atmosphere in the metallurgical processes.

2. Natural Gas:

   
   It is found along with petroleum below the surface of the earth.
   Composition: CH₄ = 60 – 80 %, Higher hydrocarbons = 2 – 12%, C₂H₆ = 5 – 10 %, C₃H₈ = 3 – 18 %
   Uses: It is used as a fuel. Its partial combustion yields carbon black (reinforcing agent for rubber).

3. Oil Gas:

   
   Preparation:
   Uses: It is used as fuel in laboratories in Bunsen burners.

4. Wood-Gas:

   
   Preparation: Destructive distillation of wood gives wood gas (CH₄, C₂H₆ H₂)
   Uses: It is used as fuel.

5. Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG):

   
   Composition: n-butane + Iso-butane
   Uses: It is used as domestic fuel.

6. Carbon Monoxide (CO):

   
   Preparation:
   
   It is manufactured in the form of water and produces gas.
   Properties:
   (i) It is a colourless, odourless and almost water-insoluble gas.
   (ii) It is a powerful reducing agent.
   (iii) CO is used in the extraction of many metals from their oxide ores.
   
   

7. Carbon Dioxide (CO₂):

   
   Preparation:
   (i)
   (ii)
   (iii)
   Properties:
   (i) It is a colourless and odourless gas.
   (ii) With water, it forms carbonic acid.
   
   (iii) Photosynthesis
   

Compounds of Silicon

1. Silicates

   
   Silicates are metal derivatives of silicic acid, H₂SiO₃ and can be obtained by fusing metal oxides or metal carbonates with sand. The basic structural unit of silicates is SiO₄^4-.
   
   Mica (abrak) is naturally occurring aluminium silicate [KH₂AI₃(SiO₄]₃ or  KAI₃Si₃O₁₀(OH)₂. 

2. Silicones

   
   The linear, cyclic or cross-linked polymeric compounds containing (R₂SiO) as a repeating unit, are known as silicones. They are manufactured from alkyl-substituted chlorosilanes.
   Silicones are chemically inert, water repellent, heat resistant, good electrical insulators. These are used as lubricants (vaseline), insulators etc

3. Carborundum

   It is the second hardest material known and has the formula SiC (silicon carbide). It is used as a high-temperature semiconductor, in transistor diode rectifiers.

4. Glass

   It is a transparent or translucent amorphous substance obtained by fusion of sodium carbonate (or sodium sulphate), calcium carbonate and sand (silica). It is not truly solid, so its melting point is not sharp. The general formula of glass is Na₂O.CaO.6SiO₂
   Coloured glasses are obtained by adding a certain substance to the molten mass.Different Varieties of Glass:Glass is attacked by HF. This property is used in the etching of glass.
   
   Question for Group-14 Elements: Carbon Family

   Try yourself:The cross-linked polymer compounds containing silicone which are linear and the cyclic are called ___________

   • A.

     coal
   • B.

     silicones
   • C.

     silicate
   • D.

     silicanes

   Explanation

   The linear, cyclic or cross-linked polymer compounds containing R₂SiO, as a repeating unit, is known as Silicones. They are manufactured from alkyl substituted chlorosilanes they are chemically inert, water repellent and also heat resistant.

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Compounds of Lead

1. Chrome yellow (PbCrO₄):

   
   It is prepared by adding potassium chromate to lead chromate and is used as a yellow pigment under the name chrome yellow. On treating with alkali, it gives basic lead chromate or chrome red, PbCrO₄.PbO.

2. Basic lead carbonate, Pb(OH)₂.2PbCO₃

   
   It is also known as white lead and is prepared by adding sodium carbonate solution to any lead salt.
   3Pb(NO₃)₂ + 3Na₂CO₃ + H₂O → Pb(OH)₂.2PbCO₃ + 6NaNO₃ + CO₂
   
   It is used as white paint. The disadvantage of using white lead in paints is that it turns black by the action of H₂S of the atmosphere.

Note: 

Lead poisoning is called plumbosolvency which increases in the excess of nitrates, organic acids and ammonium salts.

Unique Properties of Carbon

• Carbon derives a lot of its properties from its small size. The compounds that carbon forms are highly stable and this is also because of its small size. Due to its small size, the nucleus effectively holds on to the bonded and non-bonded electrons.
• Hence in short, tetravalency, small size and property of catenation make carbon different from other elements and so we have the whole branch of chemistry dedicated to the study of this kind of compound.

2) Tetravalency of Carbon:

• Carbon exhibits tetravalency. It means it can share four electrons to complete its octet. Thus, we know it bonds to four different monovalent atoms. Carbon forms a large variety of compounds with oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, halogens. This results in a different set of compounds which have distinctive characteristics and properties.
• Carbon has the availability of only s and p orbitals. Therefore, it can hold only four pairs of electrons in its valence shell. Thus, we can restrict the covalence to four. However, the other elements in the group can easily grow their covalence due to the availability of d-orbitals.

3) Catenation:

• One of the unique properties of Carbon is its ability to form long carbon chains. It implies that carbon attaches with other carbon atoms to form long carbon chains. This property is what we call as catenation. Sometimes, this chain could be as big as to have a total of 70-80 carbons. This gives rise to a variety of complex compounds. Some of the compounds have a straight carbon chain while some others have branched carbon chain or rings.
• The carbon compounds having only single bond are the saturated hydrocarbons. On the other hand, the compounds with double or triple bond are the unsaturated hydrocarbons.
• As we move down the group, the size of the elements increases. This results in a decreasing electronegativity. Thus, the propensity to show catenation also decreases. This can be clearly observed from bond enthalpy values. The catenation order is C >> Si > Ge >> Sn.

4) Electronegativity:

• Additionally, carbon has an extraordinary capacity to shape pp – pp multiple bonds with itself and with different molecules. This can also be related to its smaller size and high electronegativity. Some of the examples would include C = C, C° C, C = O, C = S and C° N.
• As a matter of fact, the heavier elements don’t shape pp – pp bonds. This is mainly because of the reason that their nuclear orbitals are too vast and diffused to have viable overlapping. For example, lead does not indicate catenation.

Solved Example:

Q: Give some practical uses of carbon.

Ans: There are many important uses of carbon. Some of them are:

• We use impure carbon in the form of charcoal (from wood) and coke (from coal) in metal smelting.
• Graphite is a common use in pencils. We also use graphite to make brushes in electric motors and in furnace linings.
• Activated charcoal finds its usage in purification and filtration in respirators and kitchen extractor hoods.
• Industrial diamonds are a common tool for cutting rocks and drilling.