GROUP 14: CARBON GROUP

Carbon Group Overview

Also known as: Tetrels, Crystallogens

Elements: Carbon (C), Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), Tin (Sn), Lead (Pb), Flerovium (Fl)

Common Properties: Four valence electrons (ns²np²), transition from nonmetal to metals down the group

C

Carbon

Life Element
Atomic Number 6
Atomic Mass 12.01 u
Electron Config [He] 2s² 2p²
Common Ions C⁴⁻, C⁴⁺
Melting Point 3550°C
Density 2.26 g/cm³
Carbon is the basis for all known life on Earth and can form diamonds, one of the hardest materials, or graphite, one of the softest!

Properties: Nonmetal, multiple allotropes, forms more compounds than any other element

Applications: Steel production, fuels, diamonds, graphite, organic chemistry

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Si

Silicon

Semiconductor
Atomic Number 14
Atomic Mass 28.09 u
Electron Config [Ne] 3s² 3p²
Common Ions Si⁴⁺
Melting Point 1414°C
Density 2.33 g/cm³
Silicon is the second most abundant element in Earth's crust after oxygen, and gives Silicon Valley its name!

Properties: Metalloid, semiconductor, brittle

Applications: Computer chips, solar cells, glass, cement

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Ge

Germanium

Semiconductor
Atomic Number 32
Atomic Mass 72.63 u
Electron Config [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²
Common Ions Ge⁴⁺, Ge²⁺
Melting Point 938°C
Density 5.32 g/cm³
Germanium was one of the first semiconductors used in transistors, before silicon became more popular!

Properties: Metalloid, semiconductor, brittle

Applications: Semiconductors, fiber optics, infrared optics

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Sn

Tin

Malleable
Atomic Number 50
Atomic Mass 118.71 u
Electron Config [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p²
Common Ions Sn⁴⁺, Sn²⁺
Melting Point 232°C
Density 7.31 g/cm³
Tin has an unusual property called "tin cry" - it makes a screaming sound when bent due to crystal twinning!

Properties: Soft, malleable, silvery-white metal

Applications: Cans, solder, bronze alloys, organ pipes

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Pb

Lead

Dense
Atomic Number 82
Atomic Mass 207.2 u
Electron Config [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²
Common Ions Pb²⁺, Pb⁴⁺
Melting Point 327°C
Density 11.34 g/cm³
Lead was used by ancient Romans for water pipes - the word "plumbing" comes from "plumbum," the Latin word for lead!

Properties: Dense, soft, malleable, toxic metal

Applications: Batteries, radiation shielding, weights, solder

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Fl

Flerovium

Synthetic
Atomic Number 114
Atomic Mass 289 u
Electron Config [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p²
Common Ions Fl²⁺
Half-life ~2 seconds
Stability Synthetic
Flerovium is named after the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions in Russia, which itself was named after physicist Georgy Flyorov!

Properties: Synthetic, radioactive, extremely unstable

Applications: Scientific research only

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