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26
Subjective

Give reasons for the following

(a) $\mathrm{CCl}_4$ is immiscible in water, whereas $\mathrm{Sid}_4$ is easily hydrolysed.

(b) Carbon has a strong tendency for catenation compared to silicon.

Explanation

(a) Carbon tetrachloride $\left(\mathrm{CCl}_4\right)$ is a covalent compound while $\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}$ is a polar compound. $\mathrm{CCl}_4$ does not form H -bond with water molecule. Hence, it is immiscible in water. Further more, $\mathrm{CCl}_4$ is not hydrolysed by water because of the absence of $d$-orbitals in carbon while $\mathrm{SiCl}_4$ is readily hydrolysed by water.

$\mathrm{SiCl}_4+4 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O} \longrightarrow \underset{\text { Silicic acid }}{\mathrm{Si}(\mathrm{OH})_4}+4 \mathrm{HCl}$

The hydrolysis of $\mathrm{SiCl}_4$ occurs due to coordination of $\mathrm{OH}^{-}$with empty $3 d$ orbitals in silicon atom of $\mathrm{SiCl}_4$ molecule.

(b) Carbon atoms have the tendency to link with one another through covalent bonds to form chains and rings. This property is called catenation. This is because $\mathrm{C}-\mathrm{C}$ bonds are very strong.

Down the group, the size increases and electronegativity decreases and thereby, tendency to show catenation decreases. Thus, carbon has a strong tendency for catenation as compared to silicon.

27
Subjective

Explain the following.

(a) $\mathrm{CO}_2$ is a gas whereas $\mathrm{SiO}_2$ is a solid.

(b) Silicon forms $\mathrm{SiF}_6^{2-}$ ion whereas corresponding fluoro compound of carbon is not known.

Explanation

(a) $\mathrm{CO}_2$ has a linear structure. Its dipole moment is zero. It is believed that $\mathrm{CO}_2$ molecule is a resonance hybrid has the following structures.

$$\mathrm{O}=\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{O} \leftrightarrow{ }^{-} \mathrm{O}-\mathrm{C} \equiv \mathrm{O}^{+} \leftrightarrow \mathrm{O}^{+} \equiv \mathrm{C}-\mathrm{O}^{-}$$

The $\mathrm{CO}_2$ molecules are held together by weak van der Waals' forces and thus, it exists as gas. In $\mathrm{SiO}_2$, due to large electronegative difference between Si and O , the $\mathrm{Si}-\mathrm{O}$ bonds have considerable ionic nature.

Therefore, silica has three dimensional network like structure in which Si-atom is tetrahedrally bonded to four oxygen atoms and each oxygen atom is bonded to two silicon atoms by covalent bonds.

There is no discrete $\mathrm{SiO}_2$ molecule. It is a network solid with octahedral coordination.

(b) In silicon, vacant 3d orbitals are available due to which it can accomodate electrons from 6 fluorine atoms, thereby forming $\mathrm{Si}_6^{2-}$ ion. However, in case of C only $2 p^2$ filled orbitals are available thus, it cannot expand their covalency more than 4. Thus, $\mathrm{CCl}_6^2$ is not known.

28
Subjective

The +1 oxidation state in group 13 and +2 oxidation state in group 14 becomes more and more stable with increasing atomic number. Explain.

Explanation

The term inert pair effect is often used in relation to the increasing stability of oxidation states that are 2 less than the group valency for the heavier elements of groups $13,14,15$ and 16. In group 13 all the elements show +3 oxidation state whereas Ga , In and TI show +1 oxidation state also. Boron, being small in size can lose its valence electrons to form $\mathrm{B}^{3+}$ ion and shows +3 oxidation state. +1 oxidation state of $\mathrm{TI}, \mathrm{Ga}$ is due to inert pair effect. The outer shell $s$-electrons ( $n s^2$ ) penetrate to $(n-1) d$-electrons and thus becomes closer to nucleus and are more effectively pulled towards the nucleus. This results in less availability of $n s^2$ electrons pair for bonding or $n s^2$ electron pair becomes inert. This reluctance in the participation of $n s^2$ eletrons in bonding is termed as inert pair effect. The inert pair is more effective after $n \geq 4$ and increases with increasing value of $n$. For groups 14 , in spite of four valence electrons, they do not form $M^{4+}$ or $M^{4-}$ ionic compounds. They form covalent compounds with four bonds. $\mathrm{Ge}, \mathrm{Sn}$ and Pb also exhibit +2 oxidation state due to inert pair effect. $\mathrm{Sn}^{2+}$ and $\mathrm{Pb}^{2+}$ show ionic nature. The tendency to form +2 ionic state increases on moving down the group due to inert pair effect.

29
Subjective

Carbon and silicon both belong to the group 14, but inspite of the stoichiometric similarity, the dioxides, (i.e., carbon dioxide and silicon dioxide), differ in their structures . Comment.

Explanation

All members of group 14 form dioxides of formula $\mathrm{MO}_2$ i.e., for carbon $\mathrm{CO}_2$ and silica $\mathrm{SiO}_2$. $\mathrm{CO}_2$ has a linear structure since, its dipole moment is zero. Both the oxygen atoms are linked by double bonds. The C-atom is sp hybridised.

However, $\mathrm{C}-\mathrm{O}$ bond length is $$1.15\mathop A\limits^o $$, which is less than calculated value of $\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{O}$ bond. Hence, it shows resonance hybrid of following structures.

$\mathrm{O}=\mathrm{C}==\mathrm{O} \longleftrightarrow \mathrm{O}^{-}-\mathrm{C} \equiv \equiv \mathrm{O}^{+} \longleftrightarrow \mathrm{O} \equiv \equiv \mathrm{C}-\mathrm{O}^{-}$

But, the structure of silica is entirely different from that of $\mathrm{CO}_2 \cdot \mathrm{Si}-\mathrm{O}$ bonds have a considerable ionic character due to large electronegative difference between Si and O . As a result, silica has a three dimensional structure in which silica atom is tetrahedrally bonded to four oxygen atoms and each oxygen atom is bonded to two silicon atoms by covalent bonds.

There is no discrete $\mathrm{SiO}_2$ molecule but entire crystal as a giant molecule. $\mathrm{Si}-\mathrm{O}$ bonds are strongly making it solid having high melting point.

30
Subjective

If a trivalent atom replaces a few silicon atoms in three dimensional network of silicon dioxide, what would be the type of charge on overall structure?

Explanation

The structure of $\mathrm{SiO}_2$ crystal is as

When some Si-atoms are replaced by trivalent impurity, holes are created, which are equivalent to positive charge. These holes make the crystal structure as conductor of electricity.

Since, the crystals on the whole are always electrically neutral, the obtained crystal is also electrically neutral.

An electron from a neighbouring atom can come and fill the electron hole, but in doing so it would leave an electron hole at its original position. If it happens, it would appear as if the electron hole has moved in the direction opposite to that of the electron that filled it. Under the influence of electric field, electrons would move towards the positively charged plate through electronic holes, but it would appear as if electron holes are positively charged and are moving towards negatively charged plate. This type of semiconductors are called p-type semiconductors.