The carbon family elements have widely variable physical and chemical properties. Overall, the carbon family elements are stable and tend to be fairly unreactive. The elements tend to form covalent compounds, though tin and lead also form ionic compounds.
Reaction of carbon with air
Carbon, as graphite, burns to form gaseous carbon (IV) oxide (carbon dioxide), CO2. Diamond is a form of carbon and also burns in air when heated to 600-800°C - an expensive way to make carbon dioxide! ... This reaction is important. In industry, air is blown through hot coke.
