Inorganic elements

	Atomic Number	Electron configuration	Oxidation numbers	Atomic Weight
Carbon (C)	6	[He] 2s2 2p2	+2, +4, -4	12.011
Silicon (Si)	14	[Ne] 3s23p2	+4	28.09
Germanium (Ge)	32	[Ar] 3d104S24p2	-4, +4	72.59
Tin (Sn)	50	[Kr] 4d105s25p2	+2, +4	118.69
Lead (Pb)	82	[Xe] 4f145d106s26p2	+2, +4	207.19

Carbides result from the reaction of carbon with some metallic  elements, they are classified as being salt-like (ionic), covalent, interstial in nature.

Examples of salt-like are Be₂C and Al₄C₃, they yield metane upon hydrolysis:

Al₄C₃ + 12 H₂O= 3CH₄ + 4Al(OH)₃

Other examples of salt-like carbides are acetylides which contain the ion C₂^--. They are defined as compounds arising by replacement of one or both hydrogen atoms of C₂H₂ (acetylene or ethyne) by a metal or other cationic group. E.g. NaCCH monosodium acetylide. By extension, analogous compounds derived from terminal acetylenes, RCCH.

Calcium carbide CaC₂ is an acetylide. When hydrolyzed these compounds yield acethylene:

 CaC₂ +  2 H₂O = C₂H₂ + 4Ca(OH)₂

Covalent carbides are formed by the combination of carbon with elements of similar electronegativity, the most important is silicon carbide (SiC) also known as carborundum. Carborundum is nearly as hard as diamond.

Interstitial carbides are formed with transition metals, e.g. TiC and W₂C. These compounds are nearly as hard as diamond and melt at very high temperatures (>300°C).

	Atomic Number	Electron configuration	Oxidation numbers	Atomic Weight
Silicon (Si)	14	[Ne] 3s23p2	+4	28.09

Silica or silicon dioxide: SiO_{2, quartz is a crystal form of silica.}

Sodium silicate: Na₄SiO₄

Silanes are silicon hydrides of general formula is Si_nH_2n+2 in which n ranges from 1 SiH₄ to 6 Si₆H₁₄ (thus they are analogous to saturated hydrocarbon). Compounds in which silicon atoms are linked by double or triple bonds are not known. Silanes are colorless relatively volatile substances and are all very reactive, for example they ignites spontaneously in air (Si₃H₈ + 5O₂ = 3SiO₂ + 4H₂O) and  react explosively with halogens. 

In presence of Al₂Cl₆ silanes react with HCl in a controllated manner to give chlorosilanes:

HCl + SiH₄ = SiH₃Cl + H₂

Chlorosilanes such as (CH₃)₃SiCl, (CH₃)₂SiCl₂ and CH₃SiCl₃ upon hydrolysis give raise to polymeric compounds known as silicones.

Silicones are technologically important, in fact they are water repellent, heat resistant, chemically inert and electrically insulant.

Silanols:

1. In a strict sense, hydroxy derivatives of silanes: Si_nH_2n+1OH.

2. A name commonly applied to Si-hydrocarbyl derivatives of silanol (H₃SiOH) e.g., R₃SiOH.

Germanium (Group IVB)

	Atomic Number	Electron configuration	Oxidation numbers	Atomic Weight
Germanium (Ge)	32	[Ar] 3d104S24p2	-4, +4	72.59

Tin (Group IVB)

	Atomic Number	Electron configuration	Oxidation numbers	Atomic Weight
Tin (Sn)	50	[Kr] 4d105s25p2	+2, +4	118.69

Lead (Group IVB)

	Atomic Number	Electron configuration	Oxidation numbers	Atomic Weight
Lead (Pb)	82	[Xe] 4f145d106s26p2	+2, +4	207.19

Galena: PbS (lead sulfide) is the common source of lead (Pb).