Carbon, a member of group 14 forms a large number of carbon compounds estimated to be about 3 million. Why is this property not exhibited by other elements of this group? Explain.

Carbon, a member of group 14 forms a large number of carbon compounds

1.	Carbon, a member of group 14 forms a large number of carbon compounds estimated to be about 3 million. Why is this property not exhibited by other elements of this group? Explain.
Answer» Solution :carbon has a UNIQUE ability to form bonds with other atoms of carbon giving RISE to large molecules . This property is called catenation. This property can be explained in terms of a small size of carbon the bonds FORMED are STRONG bonds as the size of carbon is small it enables it to hold on the shared pairs of electrons and therefore these are stable bonds other members of this GROUP do not forms large number of compounds because of greater atomic size as the size of the atomic increases the hold of the nucleus on the share shared electrons decreases therefore the bond form formed is not stable and strong carbon forms cyclic compound as well carbon forms compounds with carbon carbon double and triple bonds also