Why do Group 4 elements bond covalently?

Question

Why do they not gain or lose electrons instead?

Answer 1

usually in a stable atom there are equal number of electrons and positrons.the attract each other with equal force.

now when an atom loses one electron the positive force increases .this makes the attractive forces to increase
so to lose a second electron it needs more energy than it needed to lose the first one
the opposite happen when gaining electron .when one electron is added it repels any more electrons that is added(likes repel).now if the number is less than 4 or greater than four they can easy get this energy but 4 is tricky number they rather share the electrons in covalently

Answer 2

Because their electronegativity is around 2.5 for Carbon, the difference between that and the electronegativity of whatever atoms bond with carbon tend to be less than 1.7. This typically means that it is a covalent bond.

So they tend to share electrons instead of gaining or losing to form ionic bonds, which are not really bonds.

Answer 3

Several ways of looking at this, but think about charge density. The charge on an ion is spread over the surface of that ion and high charge densities are unlikely since they would have a powerful effect in attracting oppositely charged particles. Quadruple charged ions are unlikely unless the ion is very large.
Also remember that loss of electrons to give a positive ion makes the particle smaller - hence less surface.

Answer 4

Their electronegativities are midrange. Other elements are not sufficiently induced to donate or pull electrons from Gp 4 atoms.

Answer 5

Because they give and take to achieve mutual stability.

Answer 6

They are not strongly electronegative or electropositive.

Answer 7

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