why living things need carbon?

Question

why living things need carbon?

Answer 1

Carbon has a valence of 4 which makes it capable of entering into 4 covalent bonds. This situation allows carbon to form many different chemical compounds. The following are variations in which carbon may form different chemical compounds:

1). Length of the carbon skeleton may differ ( C-C, C-C-C, C-C-C-C-C, etc.).

2). Branching of the carbon skeleton ( C-C-C-C, C-C-C-C-C )
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3). The number of double bonds may differ ( C=C-C-C, C=C=C-C ).

4). The molecular structure may be in ring form.

Functional Groups: These are certain groups of atoms attached to the carbon skeleton. This area is usually on the end of the molecule. This region is the focus of most chemical reactions. These groups change the activity and function of the molecule they are added to.

1. Hydroxyl R- OH makes molecule polar and produces an alcohol.

2. Carbonyl R=O produces compounds known as ketones and aldehydes

3. Carboxyl R=O and OH forms organic acids (carboxylic acids: formic, acetic, etc.).

4. Amino R- N + 1 charge, usually basic, acts as a good buffer.

5. Sulfhydral R- S-H thiols, stabilizes protein molecular structures.

6. Phosphate R- O- P- O plus 2 more Oxygens attached to the P. energy storage that can be passed on from one molecule to another by the transfer of the group.

Answer 2

Living things such as plants need carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis. Animals don't need carbon directly, but they do need it indirectly. A better understanding of the carbon cycle should help you understand this indirect dependency of carbon by all life better.

In a nut shell when a plant takes carbon dioxide in a gas form out of the atmosphere and uses in to create its own food in photosynthesis it changes it's form into a solid. Then as fall approaches it sheds its leaves and the carbon enriches the soil. This vegetation then decomposes as bacteria act upon it and transform it back into a gas. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is what keeps this planet warm enough to support life. Without it there would be no life at all on this planet because it would be too cold.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/carbon_cycl...

Answer 3

because we are all carbon based lifeforms. We are carbon based because it is 1 of 2 elements (2nd is silicon) that can form up to 4 bonds at same time making it ideal for building blocks and we ended up with carbon

Answer 4

i feel that the answer lies in mainly three facts...
1) the abundance of carbon over other tetravalent compounds on the earths surface.
2) the property of catenation that is present with carbon.
3) evolution...evolution would have favoured using a comound that is present in a greater amount and is relatively unreactive.

Answer 5

Why do Lego sets need the little lego pieces? Same answer.

Answer 6

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