How do atomic properties account for the enormous number of carbon compounds? Why don’t other group 4A(14) elements behave similarly?

Every substance on earth is made up of tiny particles stacked together, called atoms. Every substance has different physical and chemical properties and these properties are governed by the atoms, electrons present in the atom, the distribution of electrons in different subshells. Measurable properties of atoms such as ionization energy, electron enthalpy, valency, oxidation states, etc are some of the atomic properties which govern the behaviour of the atom.

Carbon has valency of four (tetravalent). It can form covalent bonds with many other elements as well, resulting in compounds called carbon compounds. Methane is the basic hydrocarbon formed by the combination of carbon and hydrogen.

The reasons for the numerous compounds of carbon are:

• That it is a tetravalent (it has four valence electrons and so can share four electrons in a covalent bond)
• Carbon shows catenation properties, whereby carbon can readily form bonds with carbon and also with other elements.
• Carbon can share a single electron with another carbon or another element atom to form a single bond, can share two electrons to form double bonds and three electrons to form triple bonds.