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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Morphic flip on October 14, 2006, 10:02:51 AM

Title: stability in heat decomposition
Post by: Morphic flip on October 14, 2006, 10:02:51 AM
When heatedPb(CH3)4 decomposes to Pb and other hydrocarbons.
Si(CH3)4 doesn`t.Si(C2H5)4 is less stable than Si(CH3)4
Why is this?

All I notice is:
Pb is lower than Si in periodic table, Pb atom.
Si is a semi metal, Pb a metal.
Title: Re: stability in heat decomposition
Post by: Donaldson Tan on October 17, 2006, 03:55:27 PM
The Pb-C bond is so polarised by the Pb atom that it actually weakens.