Question

why carbon show catenation but Silicon does not?​

Answer 1

Why isn't silicon capable of the same extent of catenation as carbon? Thesilicon atom is larger than the carbonatom, its covalent radius is 111 pmcarbon is 77 pm which makes it more difficult for silicon to form a tetrahedral arrangement with other atoms. The Si-Si bond is also longer and weaker than the C-C bond.

Answer 2

The silicon atom is larger than the carbon atom, its covalent radius is 111 pm carbon is 77 pm which makes it more difficult for silicon to form a tetrahedral arrangement with other atoms. The Si-Si bond is also longer and weaker than the C-C bond.

Si is often suggested as having the potential to be the basis of a biochemistry, but the chemical properties of silicon make this very unlikely.