Question

Carbon and silicon belong to group 14. The maximum coordination number of carbon in commonly occurring compounds is 4, whereas that of silicon is 6. This is due to 

(a) large size of silicon 

(b) more electro positive nature of silicon 

(c) availability of d-orbitals in silicon 

(d) Both (a) and (b)

Answer 1

Correct option: (c) availability of d-orbitals in silicon

Explanation:

Due to non-availability of vacant d-orbitals, it cannot exceed its coordination number more than four. Thus carbon never forms complexes e.g., [CCl₆ ]^2– deos not exist but [SiCl₆ ]^2– exists.