Germanium bonds to all natural single chalcogens except polonium, and forms dioxides, disulfides, and diselenides. [17] Tin also occurs in concentrations of one part per thousand in igneous rocks. Carbon also forms many oxides such as carbon monoxide, carbon suboxide (C3O2), and carbon dioxide. [17] Only the largest stars produce silicon via stellar fusion. These isotopes are lead-209, lead-210, lead-211, and lead-212. Melting and boiling points in the carbon family tend to decrease moving down the group, mainly because atomic forces within the larger molecules are not as strong. The carbon family is also called the carbon group, group 14, or group IV. Carbon family elements contain atoms that have 4 electrons in their outer energy level. Flerovium is predicted boil in -60°C. Carbon is present in the atmosphere in the form of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane. The melting point of graphite is 3… Steel is the alloy of iron and carbon. Carbon is a chemical element with atomic number 6 which means there are 6 protons in its nucleus.Total number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number of the atom and is given the symbol Z.The total electrical charge of the nucleus is therefore +Ze, where e (elementary charge) equals to 1,602 x 10-19 coulombs. The carbon family consists of one nonmetal (carbon), two. Bronzes were common in early Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, Egypt, Crete, Israel, and Peru. Silicon and germanium, both metalloids, each can form +4 ions. In the field of semiconductor physics, it is still universally called Group IV. [17], 38 isotopes of lead have been discovered. 2) It has higher melting point and boiling point than other members of the group14. There are 30 milligrams of tin in a typical 70-kilogram human. Element Carbon (C), Group 14, Atomic Number 6, p-block, Mass 12.011. Our Carbonites are award-winning experts in their field, and their passion lies in helping you achieve your goals. Carbon Real Estate Group; Properties; Go Price: from to Map Search . Another allotrope of carbon is a fullerene, which has the form of sheets of carbon atoms folded into a sphere. Natural diamonds are found in kimberlite from ancient volcanoes. [17], Silicon-based life's feasibility is commonly discussed. On average, lead makes up 23 parts per million of soil, but the concentration can reach 20000 parts per million (2 percent) near old lead mines. Carbon alone forms negative ions, in the form of carbide (C4−) ions. [12] Carbon-14 is a natural radioactive isotope with a half-life of 5,730 years. [10][11]The melting points of the carbon group elements have roughly the same trend as their boiling points. Carbon Accounting Partner Michelle Maynard is an expert with appearances on Channel 9, 6PR, Triple M and as a keynote speaker. [17], Silicon minerals are not typically poisonous. [12], The atomic radii of the carbon group elements tend to increase with increasing atomic number. The donation was presented by Clodagh Lynch who was airlifted to Cork University Hospital by ICRR for emergency treatment last May. Fullerenes were discovered as byproducts of molecular beam experiments in the 1980's. Tin forms dihalides and tetrahalides with all halogens except astatine. The manufacture of glass containing silica was carried out both by the Egyptians â€“ at least as early as 1500 BCE â€“ and by the Phoenicians. Clodagh’s brother John Lynch is a Business Development Executive at Carbon Group. Human activity releases more lead into the environment than any other metal. Get in touch. At Carbon Group, we know that every property is connected to a community, and you can’t build up one without impacting the other. However, the level of tin in plants can reach 2000 parts per million if the plants are near a tin smelter. [21], There are some germanium ores, such as germanite, but these are not mined on account of being rare. Carbon's atomic radius is 77 picometers, silicon's is 118 picometers, germanium's is 123 picometers, tin's is 141 picometers, and lead's is 175 picometers. Examples of element families are the nitrogen family, oxygen family, and carbon family. [17], Solder is the most important use of tin; 50% of all tin produced goes into this application. Silicon's concentration in seawater can vary from 30 parts per billion on the surface of the ocean to 2000 parts per billion deeper down. Other forms with little crystallinity are vegetal carbon and black fume. Small Size 2. The family is also called the crystallogens. Elemental carbon is not generally toxic, but many of its compounds are, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. Tin makes up 428 parts per million of the human body. Tin and lead are both capable of forming +2 ions. It belongs to group 14 of the periodic table. Overall, the carbon family elements are stable and tend to be fairly unreactive. A small amount of germanium mixed with silver can make silver tarnish-proof. However, silicon dioxide dust, such as that emitted by volcanoes can cause adverse health effects if it enters the lungs. At Karbon Property, we do things differently. [16], There are 15 known isotopes of carbon. [17], 23 isotopes of silicon have been discovered. Lead forms four oxides, a sulfide, a selenide, and a telluride. Contact Information. [12], Carbon has multiple allotropes. Carbon is one of the few elements known since antiquity. Carbon started his own property development company in 2000. [17], 32 isotopes of germanium have been discovered. Group 14 (Carbon group) elements: Occurrence: Carbon is found in the native form as graphite. [17], Carbon is a key element to all known life. 80% of all synthetic diamonds are produced by Russia. [22], Carbon's allotrope diamond is produced mostly by Russia, Botswana, Congo, Canada, and South Africa, India. As small business owners ourselves, we get it, and we can help. Compare elements on more than 90 properties. Miguel Madeira* miguel@carbongroup.ca | Direct: 416-892-3358. Carbon C Atomic Number: 6 Atomic Weight: 12.0107 Melting Point: 3948.15 KBoiling Point: 4300 KSpecific mass: 2.267 g/cm3 Electronegativity: 2.55, Silicon Si Atomic Number: 14 Atomic Weight: 28.0855 Melting Point: 1638.15 K Boiling Point: 3538 KSpecific mass: 2.3296 g/cm3 Electronegativity: 1.9, Germanium Ge Atomic Number: 32 Atomic Weight: 72.64 Melting Point: 1211.45 K Boiling Point: 3106 KSpecific mass: 5.323 g/cm3 Electronegativity: 2.01, Tin Sn Atomic Number: 50 Atomic Weight: 118.710 Melting Point: 505.21 K Boiling Point: 2875 KSpecific mass: 7.287 g/cm3 Electronegativity: 1.96, Lead Pb Atomic Number: 82 Atomic Weight: 207.2 Melting Point: 600.75 K Boiling Point: 2022 KSpecific mass: 11.342 g/cm3 Electronegativity: 2.33. [5][16], At least two of the carbon group elements (tin and lead) have magic nuclei, meaning that these elements are more common and more stable than elements that do not have a magic nucleus. Humans consume on average between 20 and 1200 milligrams of silicon per day, mostly from cereals. The carbon family is also known as the carbon group, group 14, or the tetrels. Flerovium is too radioactive to test if its toxic or not although its high radioactivity alone would be toxic. 20% of tin is also used by the chemical industry. SGL Carbon Group EK 2200 Carbon Graphite Categories: Carbon; Graphite. A family consists of a homologous element with atoms having the same number of valence electrons and thus similar chemical properties. Diamond, another form of carbon, is commonly used in jewelry. However, it is less able than carbon to form elaborate rings and chains. Element density increases moving down the group. Feel like we're a good fit? There are 120 milligrams of lead in a typical 70-kilogram human.[17]. Germanium has been found to exist in some very faraway stars. Silicon makes up 14.3 parts per million of the human body on average. It is in all organic compounds, for example, DNA, steroids, and proteins. [17], Silicon is present in the earth's crust at concentrations of 28%, making it the second most abundant element there. Lead was historically used in gasoline in the form of tetraethyllead, but this application has been discontinued due to concerns of toxicity. Elements in this family are of key importance for semiconductor technology. On average, tin makes up 1 part per million of soil. The word "carbon" comes from the Latin word carbo, meaning "charcoal".The word "silicon" comes from the Latin word silex or silicis, which means "flint". Germanium forms tetrahalides with all halogens except astatine and forms dihalides with all halogens except bromine and astatine. On average, germanium makes up 1 part per million of soil. The tendency to lose electrons increases as the size of the atom increases, as it does with increasing atomic number. The members of this family include carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and flerovium (Fl). Then the germanium is further refined by zone refining. Carbon Group has made a Christmas donation to voluntary medical network, Irish Community Rapid Response (By Land and Air). Compare Nitrogen and Carbon on the basis of their properties, attributes and periodic table facts. However, plants do collect tin in their roots. Lead is only found as a dense blue-gray metal. Its density fluctuates from 2.25 g/cm³ (1.30 ounces/in³) for graphite and 3.51 g/cm³ (2.03 ounces/in³) for diamond. Carbon Family of Elements. Bonds in these elements often lead to hybridisation where distinct s and p characters of the orbitals are erased. From developing contemporary apartments to renovating local historic buildings, we’re all about home-grown development. Atomic Number – Protons, Electrons and Neutrons in Carbon. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. The origins of tin seem to be lost in history. The word "lead" comes from the Old English word lead. These allotropes are known as the amorphous and the crystalline allotropes. [16] Carbon is present in the earth's crust in concentrations of 480 parts per million, and is present in seawater at concentrations of 28 parts per million. Germanium makes up 0.5 parts per trillion of seawater. When it is burned in air to give carbon dioxide, it is called as combustion. “I used to build hotels with my wooden blocks alongside my father, a master carpenter, “says Dwain as he reflects on his childhood. This makes it useful as a base for solder. 22 g/cm3 Electronegativity: ? These elements belong to the p-block of elements in the periodic table. Tin also has four radioisotopes that occur as the result of the radioactive decay of uranium. The Carbon Family. Germanium is one of three elements the existence of which was predicted in 1869 by the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev when he first devised his periodic table. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds. Carbon has a density of 2.26 grams per cubic centimeter, silicon has a density of 2.33 grams per cubic centimeter, germanium has a density of 5.32 grams per cubic centimeter. It is likely that element 114, flerovium, will also behave in some respects as a member of the family. None of these are naturally occurring. This nuclear reaction was repeated in 1998, this time successfully.[17]. Of these, three are naturally occurring. Another form of carbon is diamond, but this is relatively rare. [17], Flerovium only occurs in particle accelerators. Carbon is also used in the form of graphite is commonly used as the lead in pencils. The carbon family elements have widely variable physical and. Unlike alkanes, silanes are strong reducing agents, explode in chlorine and are readily hydrolysed by alkaline solutions. In 1980, germanium was reported by Kazuhiko Asai to benefit health, but the claim has not been proven. There are 5 milligrams of germanium in a typical 70-kilogram human. Germanium-containing ores are first treated with chlorine to form germanium tetrachloride, which is mixed with hydrogen gas. Its symbol is 'C'. Silicon is used as its oxide to make glass. The estimated human intake of germanium is 1 milligram per day. Like other groups, the members of this family show patterns in electron configuration, especially in the outermost shells, resulting in trends in chemical behavior: [16], Germanium makes up 2 parts per million of the earth's crust, making it the 52nd most abundant element there. [16][21], Germanium was used in semiconductors until the 1950s, when it was replaced by silicon. The carbon family is located very nearly in the middle of the periodic table, with nonmetals to its right and metals to its left. 20% of all tin produced is used in tin plate. The carbon family consists of five elements: carbon, silicon, germanium, tin, and lead. https://www.thoughtco.com/carbon-family-of-elements-606641 (accessed February 14, 2021). 340 K Boiling Point: ? We can find the Carbon family towards the right side of the periodic table. 1) Carbon in form of diamond is very hard as compared to other members of group 14. However, carbon dust can be dangerous because it lodges in the lungs in a manner similar to asbestos. An isolated, neutral group 14 atom has the s2 p2 configuration in the ground state. Its atomic number is 6. Carbon forms disulfides and diselenides. All the elements of similar categories show a lot of similarities and differences in their chemical, atomic, physical properties and uses. The carbon family is also known as the carbon group, group 14, or the tetrels. In other words, the group consists of carbon and the elements directly below it on the periodic table. In September 1885, a miner discovered a mineral sample in a silver mine and gave it to the mine manager, who determined that it was a new mineral and sent the mineral to Clemens A. Winkler. The four main allotropes of carbon are graphite, diamond, amorphous carbon and fullerines. Tin and lead are used in alloys and to make pigments. High Ionization Enthalpy 4. Cobalt stannate is a tin compound which is used as a cerulean blue pigment. The total amount of lead ever mined by humans amounts to 350 million metric tons. They are also known as the crystallogens[1] or adamantogens.[2]. Germanium has a low degree of oral toxicity in animals. The crystalline allotrope is gray and has a metallic luster. The group was once also known as the tetrels (from the Greek word tetra, which means four), stemming from the Roman numeral IV in the group names, or (not coincidentally) from the fact that these elements have four valence electrons (see below). [17], A biological role for germanium is not known, although it does stimulate metabolism. Tin (IV) oxide occurs at concentrations of 0.1 to 300 parts per million in soils. [5], Germanium forms five hydrides. Elements in this family are of key importance for semiconductor technology. The carbon family consists of the elements carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and flerovium (Fl). The Babylonians used the metal as plates on which to record inscriptions. The method by which tin is produced is to heat the tin mineral cassiterite (SnO2) with coke. The most common is stable silicon-28, followed by stable silicon-29 and stable silicon-30. Severe germanium poisoning can cause death by respiratory paralysis. [18], Lead makes up 14 parts per million of the earth's crust, making it the 36th most abundant element there. We live here, we work here, we build here, we grow here. Amorphous elemental silicon was first obtained pure in 1824 by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius; impure silicon had already been obtained in 1811. China, Indonesia, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil are the main producers of tin. [21], Silicon dioxide has a wide variety of applications, including toothpaste, construction fillers, and silica is a major component of glass. Most lead is recycled from lead batteries. Carbon forms tetrahalides with all the halogens. Learn about the element Carbon and What are the Physical and Chemical Properties of Carbon, the different isotopes of carbon at Vedantu.com Carbon makes up only about 0.025 percent of Earth's crust. Carbon Group Latest News. [17], Tin has been shown to be essential for proper growth in rats, but there is, as of 2013, no evidence to indicate that humans need tin in their diet. Flerovium's most stable isotope is flerovium-289, which has a half-life of 2.6 seconds. Carbon is the basis for organic life. Some plants, such as cucumbers contain up to tens of parts per million of lead. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds. Two of these electrons are in the. Lead, for example, has such a low melting point that it's easily liquefied by a flame. Germanium and silicon are important semiconductors. Carbon, the lightest carbon group element, sublimates at 3825 Â°C. Periodic Table Study Guide - Introduction & History, Identifying Element Blocks on the Periodic Table, Metalloids or Semimetals: Definition, List of Elements, and Properties, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. Sources, facts, uses, scarcity (SRI), podcasts, alchemical symbols, videos and images. We can, thus know, their electronic configuration is ns 2 np 2. It lies within the p-block. Meet our Carbonites. ThoughtCo. Silicon as silica in the form of rock crystal was familiar to the predynastic Egyptians, who used it for beads and small vases; to the early Chinese; and probably to many others of the ancients. Despite their adherence to periodic trends, the properties of the carbon family vary greatly. Carbon forms 22.8% of a typical human. With this vision in mind, Mr. 45% of silicon is devoted to the manufacture of silicones. 4 million metric tons of lead are newly mined each year, mostly in China, Australia, the United States, and Peru. Carbon compounds generally show 4 reactions, they are Combustion reaction; Oxidation reaction, Addition reactions; Substitution reaction. [17], Mines output 300,000 metric tons of tin each year. Every small business owner has a to-do list that is never-ending, and usually full of time-consuming and fiddley tasks. [5] Carbon's importance to life is primarily due to its ability to form numerous bonds with other elements. The physical and chemical properties of carbon depend on the crystalline structure of the element. The carbon family consists of the elements carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and flerovium (Fl). [17], 40 isotopes of tin have been discovered. Wheat and maize contain seven and three parts per million respectively. The most common is tin-120, followed by tin-118, tin-116, tin-119, tin-117, tin-124, tin-122, tin-112, and tin-114: all of these are stable. Winkler realized that the sample was 75% silver, 18% sulfur, and 7% of an undiscovered element. Elemental carbon exists in two well-defined allotropic crystalline forms: diamond and graphite. [17], The first attempt to discover flerovium (then referred to as "element 114") was in 1969, at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, but it was unsuccessful. Miguel Madeira* miguel@carbongroup.ca | Direct: 416-892-3358. In this form, carbon is used for steelmaking, as carbon black, as a filling in tires, in respirators, and as activated charcoal. Carbon Acquisition Group started as a vision by our CEO, Dwain Carbon to build his dream of Hotel chains. Tin is typically found in the β-tin form, a silvery metal. Group 14 (carbon family) elements have much higher melting points and boiling points than the group 13 elements. Like other groups, the members of this family show patterns in electron configuration, especially in the outermost shells, resulting in trends in chemical behavior: Each of the elements in this group has 4 electrons in its outer shell. [16] Radiation detectors contain germanium. Organic germanium compounds are more toxic than inorganic germanium compounds. Atoms of elements in this group have four valence electrons. [12], The densities of the carbon group elements tend to increase with increasing atomic number. Silicon is essential for bone growth in chickens and rats and may also be essential in humans. Carbon is the only element in the group that can be found pure in nature. [5] Silicon in the form of silicon dioxide is used by diatoms and sea sponges to form their cell walls and skeletons. [17] Flerovium was named after Georgy Flyorov and his Institute. Silicon is also commonly used in semiconductors since the 1950s. Germanium dioxide is used in fiber optics and wide-angle camera lenses. Carbon is a non-metal, silicon and germanium are metalloids, and tin and lead are poor metals (they conduct heat and electricity less effectively than other metals such as copper). Here are some facts about the carbon family: The carbon family elements are important in daily life and in industry. Steel consists of carbon content up to a maximum of 1.5% (Somewhere it will be mentioned as up to 2%). Chemically pure carbon can be prepared by termic decomposition of sugar (sucrose) in absence of air. Tin and lead both are metals, while flerovium is a synthetic, radioactive (its half life is very short, only 1.9 seconds) element that may have a few noble gas-like properties, though it is still most likely a post-transition metal. Carbon exhibits different behaviour from the rest of the group due to, 1. Carbon is a chemical element which is non-metallic. Carbon gives a vast number of hydrides (alkanes), silicon and germanium (silanes and germanes) whereas stannane (SnH4) and plumbane (PbH4) are the only hydrides of tin and lead are known. Carbon (from Latin: carbo "coal") is a chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6. The chemical and structural properties of fullerenes, in the form of carbon nanotubes, has promising potential uses in the nascent field of nanotechnology. Germanium occurs in the human body at concentrations of 71.4 parts per billion. On average, humans consume 0.3 milligrams of tin per day. We refer to them as the group 14 elements. Lead only occurs in close packed structural forms. However, the element was not actually discovered for some time. Five of these are naturally occurring. We’re focused on achieving outstanding results for our clients, while delivering a great experience. [16], Germanium can interfere with such enzymes as lactate and alcohol dehydrogenase. These elements, especially carbon and silicon, have a strong propensity for covalent bonding, which usually brings the outer shell to eight electrons. Carbon Real Estate Group; Properties; Go Price: from to Contact Information. [17], 80% of all lead produced goes into lead–acid batteries. Tin at room temperature has a tetragonal crystal structure. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. [4] Silicon nitride has the formula Si3N4. Silicones, which are silicon compounds, are used to make lubricants and for vacuum pumps. [17], Lead and its compounds, such as lead acetates are highly toxic. One way to classify elements is by family. [3], Silicon forms several hydrides; two of them are SiH4 and Si2H6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds. There is 1 gram of silicon in a typical 70-kilogram human. Although tin is chemically a metal, its α allotrope looks more like germanium than like a metal and it is a poor electric conductor. After several months, Winkler isolated the element and determined that it was element 32. Tin (IV) oxide has been commonly used in ceramics for thousands of years. The carbon group is a periodic table group consisting of carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and flerovium (Fl). Carbon, for example, occurs in diamond, graphite, fullerene, and amorphous carbon allotropes. Lead has a face-centered cubic crystal structure. Tin has a density of 7.26 grams per cubic centimeter, and lead has a density of 11.3 grams per cubic centimeter. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Carbon Family of Elements." Germanium nitride has the formula Ge3N4. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Carbon Family of Elements." Flerovium has no biological role and instead is found and made only in particle accelerators. China produces 70% of the world's graphite. Material Notes: Good mechanical strength, good sliding properties, high temperature resistance, high thermal shock resistance, low wettability, high corrosion resistance, high thermal conductivity, high purity, and good electrical conductivity. Lead exists in seawater at concentrations of 2 parts per trillion. Absence of d-orbital in the Valance Shell [17], Tin makes up 2 parts per million of the earth's crust, making it the 49th most abundant element there. Double bonds are characteristic for carbon (alkenes, CO2...); the same for π-systems in general. [15], Tin has two allotropes: α-tin, also known as gray tin, and β-tin. Organic tin compounds, such as trimethyl tin and triethyl tin are highly toxic, and can disrupt metabolic processes inside cells. Instead, germanium is extracted from the ores of metals such as zinc. The ores are mixed with coke and limestone and roasted to produce pure lead. Living organisms, proteins, plastics, food, and organic building materials all contain carbon. Five of these are naturally occurring. Tin exists in seawater at concentrations of 4 parts per trillion. Carbon is most commonly used in its amorphous form. We take the time to get to know you, your goals and go the extra mile to ensure your needs are met each step of the way. Silicon and germanium have diamond cubic crystal structures, as does tin at low temperatures (below 13.2 Â°C). 4 isotopes of lead occur from the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium. For single bonds, a typical arrangement has four pairs of sp3 electrons, although other cases exist too, such as three sp2 pairs in graphene and graphite. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 28). From virtual assistants to the management of investment or holiday properties to financial assistants, we can cover it all. The most common is the stable isotope germanium-74, followed by the stable isotope germanium-72, the stable isotope germanium-70, and the stable isotope germanium-73. [6], Tin forms two hydrides: SnH4 and Sn2H6. Much of the tin used by the early Mediterranean peoples apparently came from the Scilly Isles and Cornwall in the British Isles,[20] where mining of the metal dates from about 300–200 BCE. 420 K Specific mass: ? 6. The most common is stable carbon-12, followed by stable carbon-13. Silicon melts at 1414 Â°C, germanium melts at 939 Â°C, tin melts at 232 Â°C, and lead melts at 328 Â°C. Tin forms chalcogenides with one of each naturally occurring chalcogen except polonium, and forms chalcogenides with two of each naturally occurring chalcogen except polonium and tellurium. Metallic properties increase down the group. The compound known as white lead was apparently prepared as a decorative pigment at least as early as 200 BCE. High Electronegativity 3. Silicon's boiling point is 3265 Â°C, germanium's is 2833 Â°C, tin's is 2602 Â°C, and lead's is 1749 Â°C. Three isotopes occur naturally, C and C being stable, while C is a radionuclide, decaying with a half-life of about 5,730 years. Silicon also forms a dioxide and a disulfide. The first two germanium hydrides are GeH4 and Ge2H6. As we all know that carbon in all forms needs oxygen, heat, and light and forms carbon dioxide. Tin mines were operating in both the Inca and Aztec areas of South and Central America before the Spanish conquest. [17], Lead has no known biological role, and is in fact highly toxic, but some microbes are able to survive in lead-contaminated environments. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/carbon-family-of-elements-606641. It belongs to group 14 in the periodic table. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carbon_group&oldid=1000434857, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from August 2019, Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 January 2021, at 02:41. Carbon is the chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6 (contains 6 protons in its nucleus ). Tin occurs as white tin, gray tin, and rhombic tin. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/carbon-family-of-elements-606641. It appears that bronzes, which are alloys of copper and tin, were used by prehistoric man some time before the pure metal was isolated. [17] Carbon fibers are used in numerous applications, such as satellite struts, because the fibers are highly strong yet elastic. Its allotrope graphite is used in pencils and rockets. Roughly 140 metric tons of germanium are produced each year. The word "tin" derives from the Old English word tin. The resulting alloy is known as argentium. Uses of Carbon Family Elements and Compounds. In Russia and China, germanium is also separated from coal deposits. A fifth allotrope of carbon, discovered in 2003, is called graphene, and is in the form of a layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb-shaped formation. Some plants take up germanium from the soil in the form of germanium oxide[clarification needed]. Organogermanium compounds are also found in seawater. Crystalline elemental silicon was not prepared until 1854, when it was obtained as a product of electrolysis.