Why do thallium and lead prefer their lower oxidation states, and why does boron trifluoride grab ammonia? We compare the two groups: the inert pair effect, hydrides, halides, oxides and carbides, and then practise the structure and reaction questions that join them.
3 lessons, about 1 h 30 min3 simulations10 problems6 practice questionsPython in every lesson
A stain remover, the brown powder in a car battery and a poison once used on rats all come from the heavy end of groups 13 and 14. We explain why the heavy elements prefer the lower oxidation state.
A bottle of silicon tetrachloride smokes in damp air, but a bottle of carbon tetrachloride does not. We compare the hydrides and the halides of the two groups and explain the odd cases.
A miner's lamp burns a gas from a grey stone, a red paint protects iron, and a hard grey powder sharpens knives. We close the chapter with the oxides and carbides of the two groups, and learn to follow a chain of reactions.
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