Question

What is the valence electron configuration for Group $4A$ elements? Group$4A$ contains two of the most important elements on earth. What are they, and why are they so important? How does metallic character change as one goes down Group$4A$?

Short answer

The valence electron configuration of Group $4A$elements is $n{s}^{2}n{p}^2$.

The elements in Group $4A$are the most significant of all, with carbon serving as the foundation for life on Earth and silicon serving as a critical component of the natural environment's physical structure in the form of crustal rocks.

As the components grow heavier, group $4A$, as well as the whole $p$block, displays an increase in metallic character.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of valence electron

A valence electron is an electron in its outer shell that can participate in the creation of a chemical bond if the outer shell is not closed; in a single covalent bond, both atoms contribute one valence electron to create a shared pair.

Explanation

• Group $4A$ elements have $n{s}^{2}n{p}^2$ valence electron configuration.
• Carbon is essential for life on Earth, while silicon is essential for the physical structure of the natural world in the form of crustal rocks.
• Silicon is abundantly dispersed in the natural world, and it is the building block of life and essential to organic chemistry.
• In industry and production, tin and lead are used extensively.
• As the components grow heavier, group $4A$, as well as the whole $p$ block, displays an increase in metallic character.
• Carbon and silicon, the group's lightest members, are non-metals, whereas germanium is a metalloid and tin and lead are metals.