question_answer 1)

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

Answer:

  The carbon, the first member of group 14 possesses a pronounced ability to form stable \[p\pi -p\pi \] multiple bonds with itself and with other first row elements such as nitrogen and oxygen. In\[C{{O}_{2}}\], both the oxygen atoms are linked with carbon atom by double bonds. However, silicon shows its reluctance in forming \[p\pi -p\pi \]multiple bonding due to large atomic size. Thus, in\[Si{{O}_{2}}\],oxygen atoms are linked to silicon atom by single covalent bonds giving three dimensional network.