Why is carbon such a unique element?

Question

a. elemental carbon comes in 2 forms, diamond and graphite
b. carbon forms 4 bonds, although the ground state configuration would predict the formation of fewer bonds.
c. carbon is a non-metal and forms covalent bonds rather than ionic bonds.
d. carbon can form bonds with other carbon atoms resulting in long-chain compounds, and at the same time forming bonds with many other elements.

multiple choice question
a. elemental carbon comes in 2 forms, diamond and graphite
b. carbon forms 4 bonds, although the ground state configuration would predict the formation of fewer bonds.
c. carbon is a non-metal and forms covalent bonds rather than ionic bonds.
d. carbon can form bonds with other carbon atoms resulting in long-chain compounds, and at the same time forming bonds with many other elements.

(multiple choice question)

Answer 1

Answer D is the most significant... it is the basis of organic chemistry, which is an entire field. Polymer chemistry comes from it. SIlicon, the next one under it in the periodic table, does not nearly have the same properties (although you can make certain silicon-carbon and silicon-oxygen long-chain molecules).

Answer 2

Your answer is already in your question. It has many characteristics and is capable of creating many bonds. Carbon being able to form up to 4 bonds with other elements and the ability to form triple bonds with other elements make it unique. If you are familiar with the periodic table and understand the way it was designed you will become quickly aware of the numerous abilities of carbon due to its location on the periodic table. It is in a very neutral position and therefore very capable of many varied characteristics. Also it is the common element in every biological organism.

Answer 3

Carbon is an extremely stable element because as you have stated, it has the ability to form four covalent bonds. Carbon is also an essential ingredient to any living organism.

Answer 4

d. carbon can form bonds with other carbon atoms resulting in long-chain compounds, and at the same time forming bonds with many other elements.

Answer 5

Carbon occurs in all organic life and is the basis of organic chemistry


Carbon occurs in all organic life and is the basis of organic chemistry. This nonmetal also has the interesting chemical property of being able to bond with itself and a wide variety of other elements, forming nearly ten million known compounds. When united with oxygen it forms carbon dioxide which is vital to plant growth. When united with hydrogen, it forms various compounds called hydrocarbons which are essential to industry in the form of fossil fuels. When combined with both oxygen and hydrogen it can form many groups of compounds including fatty acids, which are essential to life, and esters, which give flavor to many fruits. The isotope carbon-14 is commonly used in radioactive dating.

Answer 6

it is very reactive element and is end product of combustion of all compounds.
Carbon is a vital component of all known living systems, and without it life as we know it could not exist (see alternative biochemistry). The major economic use of carbon is in the form of hydrocarbons, most notably the fossil fuels methane gas and crude oil (petroleum). Crude oil is used by the petrochemical industry to produce, amongst others, gasoline and kerosene, through a distillation process, in refineries. Crude oil forms the raw material for many synthetic substances, many of which are collectively called plastics

Answer 7

Carbon is unique because all life form are made up of it... anyway the best part about carbon is tat it dun lose electrons easily and it form c-c bonds readily giving a wide variety of organic, organometallic compounds...

Answer 8

i did a research project on carbon...but that was SUCH a long time ago...but i do remember that it comes in two forms which are diamond and graphite..people buy diamonds like crazy today so there is most likely going to bea shortage of it so that's why it's hard to find it. Also, i saw your question about paris hilton's song "stars are blind".. i LOVE that song..and my personal opinion on what the stars are blind part basically means that horoscopes aren't true..like how people go to psychics and look at horoscopes for love and they REALLY believe that it is true..

Answer 9

I dont think any of the above are both true and unique to carbon.



carbon comes in more than 2 forms. Fullerenes are a third form.

b-d also apply to silicon and germanium but they are semiconductors.


What is completely unique to carbon is its number of protons, electrons, neutrons, ground state configuration, and orbitals used.

Answer 10

Actually, carbon comes in three forms - diamond, graphite, and buckminsterfullerene. Virtually all living compounds on Earth contain carbon. It is esential to life.