The Carbon Family
By: Spencer Rowe, Chris Goldman, Katrina Songco
Background information
The carbon family, group 14 in the p block, contains carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and Flerovirum (Uuq). These elements have only two electrons in the outermost p orbital. They tend to have oxidation states of +4 and, for the heavier elements, +2 due to the inert pair effect. Metallic properties increase as you move down the group. Carbon is a non-metal; silicon and germanium are metalloids; and tin and lead are poor metals.
Carbon - C
Electron Configuration- [He] 2s2 2p2
Lewis Dot
Physical Properties
Melting Point: 3,500 C
Boiling Point: 4728 C
Density: 2.62 g/cm3
Color: Can be Black
Malleability: Not Malleable
Chemical Properties
Oxidation states: 4,3,2,1,0,-1,-2,-3,-4, with the most common being 4.
Reactivity: Carbon can be reactive with some other elements depend on the family involved worth it.
Notable Reactions: Carbon is most noted for its reactions with water and air. We all know that this will make water, air, and under intense pressure, diamonds
Silicon- Si
Valence electrons: 4
Electron Configuration: [Ne] 3s2 3p2
Lewis dot diagram:
Physical Properties
Melting Point: 1,414 degrees Celsius
Boiling Point: 3,265 degrees Celsius
Atomic Range Radius: 111 picometers
Density: 2.3290 g/cm3
Malleability: Medium (metalloid)
Color: The natural color of Silicon is gray although you can buy it in most colors.
Chemical Properties
Reactivity: the only notable reaction is water
Uses for silicon
Silicon is one of the most useful elements to mankind.
- Sand
- Clay
- Glass
- Concrete
- Steel
Germanium- Ge
Noble gas electron Configuration : [Ar].3d10.4s2.4p2
Lewis dot diagram:
Physical Properties
Boiling point: 2820 °C
Atomic radius: 122 picometer
Density: 5323 kg m-3
Color: Grayish white
Malleability: Medium (metalloid)
Chemical Properties
Reactivity: inactive
Reactions: It will combine with chlorine and bromine to form germanium chloride (GeCl 4 ) and germanium bromide (GeBr 4 ).
Uses for Germanium
- The largest use of germanium is in the semiconductor industry, germanium is put with with arsenic, gallium or other elements and used as transistors for use in electronic devices.
Tin - Sn
Physical Properties
Boiling point: 2602 °C
Atomic Radius: 140 picometer
Density: 7.287 g/cm^3
Color: white
Malleability: yes
Chemical Properties
Reactivity and reactions : Tin is unaffected by both water and oxygen at room temperatures. It does not rust, corrode, or react in any other way. It can be affected by acids and alkalis; which is a ionic salt of a alkaline earth metal.
Uses for Tin
- Major use as a coating for protection to other metals
Tin also helps create solder . Solder is an alloy, usually made of tin and lead. It is used to join two metals to each other. An example being metal wires are attached to electrical devices by means of solder.
Lead- Pb
Electrons configuration: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2
Lewis dot diagram:
Physical Properties
Melting Point: 327.46 C,
Boiling point: 1749 C
Density: 11.34 g/cm3
Malleability: Malleable
Color: Metallic Grey
Chemical properties
Oxidation states: 4, 3,2, 1 with the main ones being 4 &2
Reactivity and reactions: It dissolves slowly in water and in many cold acids. It reacts faster with hot acids. It does not react with oxygen in the air and does not burn.
Use for lead
- Lead-acid storage batteries
Flerovium (Uuq)
Flerovium is also known as Element 114. It was found in 1998 by scientists in Dubna. It is radioactive.