Carbon and germanium belong to the 14 th group. The maximum coordination number of carbon is less than germanium, because of

Step-by-step solution

Coordination number of an element depends on the availability of valence shells. Since, carbon is placed in 2nd period and electronic configuration of C ₆ is 1 s^2 2 s^2 2 p^2 . It do not have vacant d -orbital. Therefore, it has covalency of 4 . While germanium is placed in 3rd period in the periodic table. Electronic configuration of Ge ₃₂ is [ Ar ] 3 d¹⁰ 4 s^2 4 p^2 . It has vacant d -orbital. Germanium can extend its coordination number.