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A group of elements in the periodic table: carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), and lead (Pb), which all have outer electronic configurations ns2np2 with no partly filled inner levels. Formerly, they were classified in group IV, which consisted of two subgroups: IVB (the main group) and group IVA. Group IVA consisted of titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), and hafnium (Hf), which now form group 4 and are generally considered with the transition elements.
The main valency of the elements is 4, and the members of the group show a variation from nonmetallic to metallic behaviour in moving down the group. Thus, carbon is a nonmetal and forms an acidic oxide (CO2) and a neutral oxide. Carbon compounds are mostly covalent. One allotrope (diamond) is an insulator, although graphite is a fairly good conductor. Silicon and germanium are metalloids, having semiconductor properties. Tin is a metal, but does have a nonmetallic allotrope (grey tin). Lead is definitely a metal. Another feature of the group is the tendency to form divalent compounds as the size of the atom increases. Thus carbon has only the highly reactive carbenes. Silicon forms analogous silylenes. Germanium has an unstable hydroxide (Ge(OH)2), a sulphide (GeS), and halides. The sulphide and halides disproportionate to germanium and the germanium(IV) compound. Tin has a number of tin(II) compounds, which are moderately reducing, being oxidized to the tin(IV) compound. Lead has a stable lead(II) state. See inert-pair effect.
In general, the reactivity of the elements increases down the group from carbon to lead. All react with oxygen on heating. The first four form the dioxide; lead forms the monoxide (i.e. lead(II) oxide, PbO). Similarly, all will react with chlorine to form the tetrachloride (in the case of the first four) or the dichloride (for lead). Carbon is the only one capable of reacting directly with hydrogen. The hydrides all exist from the stable methane (CH4) to the unstable plumbane (PbH4).
Subjects:Science and technology — Chemistry
Reference entries
group 14 elements
in A Dictionary of Chemistry(6)Length: 324 words
