Question

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

(a) availability of low lying d-orbitals in silicon 

(b) large size of silicon 

(c) more electropositive nature of silicon 

(d) both (b) and (c).

Answer 1

The correct option is : (a) availability of low lying d-orbitals in silicon

Explanation:

Carbon has no d-orbitals, while silicon contains d-orbitals in its valence shell which can be used for bonding purposes.