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Multiple Choice
Which characteristic of carbon makes it essential to living organisms?
A
Its ability to form ionic bonds
B
Its metallic properties
C
Its ability to form four covalent bonds
D
Its high electronegativity
Verified step by step guidance
1
Carbon is a non-metal element with an atomic number of 6, which means it has 6 electrons. These electrons are arranged in two energy levels: the first level has 2 electrons, and the second level has 4 electrons.
The second energy level can hold up to 8 electrons, so carbon has 4 valence electrons available for bonding. This allows carbon to form covalent bonds by sharing electrons with other atoms.
Carbon's ability to form four covalent bonds is crucial because it can create a wide variety of stable compounds, including long chains and rings, which are the backbone of organic molecules.
The versatility of carbon in forming single, double, and triple bonds, as well as complex structures like branched chains and rings, is essential for the diversity of organic compounds found in living organisms.
Carbon's ability to form stable covalent bonds with other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur is fundamental to the structure and function of biomolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.