PHS 100 - Self Assessment

Competency #6

Answer and Explanation

No.

While it is true that elements in a group usually react similarly, this student has failed to note that the dividing line between metals and non-metals runs right through this group, and carbon is a non-metal while lead is a metal.

This difference in basic nature of the elements leads to many differences in chemical behavior, for example when carbon combines with a non-metal, a molecular compound is formed (which does not contain ions). On the other hand, when lead combines with a non-metal, an ionic compound is formed, with the lead becoming a positive ion and the non-metal becoming a negative ion.