Tetravalency refers to the property of an element or atom to form chemical compounds by sharing or gaining four electrons in its outermost electron shell (valence shell). It is a characteristic often associated with elements from group 14 of the periodic table, also known as the carbon group or tetrels.
The most well-known element with tetravalency is carbon (C). Carbon has four valence electrons in its outermost shell and can form four covalent bonds with other atoms to achieve a stable electron configuration. This property allows carbon to form a wide variety of compounds, including hydrocarbons and organic molecules. Carbon’s ability to bond with itself and other elements in diverse ways is essential for the complexity and diversity of organic chemistry and the basis of life itself.
Other elements in the carbon group, such as silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), and lead (Pb), also exhibit tetravalency to varying degrees. They can form compounds by sharing or gaining four electrons in their outermost shells, although their chemical properties differ from carbon in important ways.