Hydrides

All the elements of group 14 combine with hydrogen directly or indirectly to form the covalent hydrides, MH₄ (M = C, Si, Ge, Sn or Pb). The number of hydrides and the ease of preparation decrease on going from carbon to lead.

The hydrides of silicon are called silanes having the general formula Si_nH_2n+2. The hydrides of germanium are called germanes while those of tin are called the stannanes. Only lead forms an unstable hydride of the formula, PbH₄ called the plumbane.

Three hydrides of germanium, i.e., GeH₄, Ge₂H₆ and Ge₃H₈ and only two hydrides of tin i.e.,SnH₄ and Sn₂H₆ are well known.

Oxides

Carbon forms five oxides CO, CO₂, C₃O₂ (carbon suboxide), C₅O₂ and C₁₂O₉, C₃O₂ is the anhydride of malonic acid and CO₂ is the anhydride of H₂CO₃ (carbonic acid) CO₂ is a non-polar linear molecule due to maximum tendency of C to form pπ–pπ multiple bond with oxygen. Si forms . SiO₂Pb forms a number of oxides. PbO can be obtained by heating Pb (NO₃)₂ ,

The red form of PbO is called litharge and the yellow form is massicot. Pb₃O₄ (Red lead, or Sindur) is prepared by heating litharge in air at 470°C, ,

CO₂ and SiO₂ is acidic, GeO₂ is weakly acidic while SnO₂ and PbO₂ are amphoteric in nature.

All the elements of group 14 except silicon from monoxides e.g., CO, GeO, SnO and PbO. Out of these monoxides only CO is neutral, while all other monoxides are basic.