Carbon Compounds: Orbital & Bonding Energies Explained

Thread starter sreesans
Start date Oct 30, 2011
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Bonding Carbon Compare Compounds Energies Explain Orbital Si

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Carbon can form polymers due to its ability to create stable, strong covalent bonds with itself, resulting in long chains that serve as backbones for various polymer structures. This capability is attributed to carbon's tetrahedral bonding geometry and optimal orbital hybridization, allowing for diverse bonding configurations. In contrast, silicon, despite being tetravalent, has larger atomic size and lower bond energies, which leads to weaker Si-Si bonds. While silicon can form polymers, such as silicones, these structures typically involve oxygen atoms connecting silicon atoms rather than direct Si-Si linkages. This distinction highlights the fundamental differences in the polymerization behavior of carbon and silicon.

Oct 30, 2011

sreesans

why carbon can form polymers and sillicon not? though both are tetra valent. explain this based on its orbital and bonding energies

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Oct 30, 2011

SteamKing

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Are you sure there are no silicon polymers? (Hint: look up silicones)

Oct 31, 2011

Borek

Mentor

In silicones Si atoms are not directly connected, they are connected through oxygen atoms - while carbon chains are a backbone of many carbon based polymers. I guess that's what the question aims at.

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