Answer to Question #55111 in Inorganic Chemistry for Souradip

Question

Carbon can form acetylides and methanides, while the other elements in the group are unable to do so,why?

Answer 1

Carbon is the most electronegative ion of his group in the periodic table. That`s why carbon alone forms negative ions, in the form of carbide ions.
Even though silicon can form silicides, but they are structurally closer to borides than to carbides, because silicon is more electropositive.
Also the chemical bonds in silicides range from conductive metal-like structures to covalent or ionic.
Other elements of the fourth group are more electropositive and can’t form negatively charged ions.