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🧪 Chemistry  ·  p-Block Elements (Groups 13 & 14)  ·  NEET & JEE

Carbon monoxide is highly poisonous because it:

Answer: binds tightly to haemoglobin.

  • A acts as a strong acid
  • B binds tightly to haemoglobin
  • C acts as a strong base
  • D is intensely radioactive

Correct answer: B. binds tightly to haemoglobin

Explanation: CO binds to haemoglobin about 200 times more strongly than O₂, blocking oxygen transport.

Carbon Allotropes: Diamond vs GraphiteDiamond (3D network)Every C is sp³, 4 strong bonds→ hardest natural substanceGraphite (layered sheets)weak van der Waals(layers slide → lubricant)Each C is sp², hexagonal sheets→ conducts electricity along sheets

Diamond's rigid 3D tetrahedral network makes it the hardest natural material, while graphite's flat hexagonal sheets are held together only by weak forces, letting them slide past each other (used as a lubricant and in pencils).

Concept context

Covers the Boron family (Group 13: B, Al) and the Carbon family (Group 14: C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb). Key topics include Lewis acid behaviour of BF₃, borax bead test, silicates, silicones, allotropes of carbon, and trends in properties down the group.

Read the full p-Block Elements (Groups 13 & 14) notes →