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There are several, but one of the more important ones is that it's not terribly energetically unfavorable for a carbon atom to form single bonds with other carbon atoms as opposed to forming bonds with oxygen or hydrogen (the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust and in the universe as a whole respectively). For why this is important, read the essay The One and Only by Isaac Asimov; it's in his non-fiction book The Tragedy of the Moon.

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12y ago
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6mo ago

Carbon has the unique ability to form long chains and complex structures due to its tetravalent nature, allowing it to form strong covalent bonds with other atoms. This results in a wide variety of compounds with diverse properties, making carbon the basis of organic chemistry.

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7y ago

Carbon can form an infinite number of combinations and is the base of life.

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Q: What property of carbon makes it different from other non-metals?
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Which property makes Carbon building block of life?

Carbon's ability to form strong covalent bonds with other carbon atoms and a variety of other elements is what makes it the building block of life. This allows for the creation of diverse organic compounds, including proteins, DNA, and carbohydrates, which are essential for life processes. Carbon's ability to bond with other elements in a variety of ways makes it incredibly versatile in forming complex molecular structures necessary for life.


Is there more nitrogen or carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere?

There is more nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere, while carbon dioxide only makes up about 0.04%.


What special property does the non-metal graphite have?

Graphite is a non-metal that has a special property of being a good conductor of electricity due to its structure of layers of carbon atoms that can move freely and carry electric charge. This conductivity makes graphite useful in applications such as batteries and electrical devices.


What is a property of hydrocarbons?

A property of hydrocarbons is that they are made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms bonded together in various combinations. They are nonpolar molecules, which makes them insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar solvents. Additionally, hydrocarbons are combustible and are commonly used as fuels.


What is carbon 13?

Carbon-13 is a stable isotope of carbon, meaning it has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons compared to the more common isotope, carbon-12. It makes up about 1.1% of naturally occurring carbon and is often used in scientific research, such as in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study the structure of molecules.

Related questions

What property makes carbon different from nonmetals?

Carbon is unique among nonmetals because it can form a wide variety of stable compounds due to its ability to form multiple bonds with other elements. This property results in the formation of diverse organic compounds, making carbon essential for life as we know it.


Name two physical properties of nonmetals?

Nonmetals are typically brittle in solid form and poor conductors of heat and electricity.


What element makes up coal graphite and diamond?

Carbon is the element that makes up coal, graphite, and diamond. These forms of carbon have different structures due to variations in the arrangement of carbon atoms.


What Elements that makes the periodic table?

metals nonmetals


What property makes the carbon atom compatible?

Tetravalence, Carbons ability to form four bonds with other atoms


Which property of carbon is responsible for large number of hydrocarbons?

The ability of each carbon atom to form covalent bonds, including bonds to other carbon atoms. This makes possible chain hydrocarbons of any length.


Which property of carbon made it possible for diversity of organisms to evolve on earth?

Carbon has 4 valence electrons, so it has lot of bonding options. This makes possible the huge diversity of compounds that involve the element carbon, which in turn, makes possible the organic compounds that make life possible.


What is a chemical or physical property of non metals?

A chemical property of nonmetals is their tendency to gain electrons in chemical reactions to achieve a stable electron configuration. A physical property of nonmetals is their brittle and non-lustrous appearance.


What is meant by the term 'allotrope'?

Each of two or more different physical forms in which an element can exist.


What acoustic property makes all different instrument and voices sound unique?

timbre


Why are so many different molecues are made for carbon atoms?

Because Carbon has four valence electrons. This makes it real easy to make bonds all around carbon.


Which property makes Carbon building block of life?

Carbon's ability to form strong covalent bonds with other carbon atoms and a variety of other elements is what makes it the building block of life. This allows for the creation of diverse organic compounds, including proteins, DNA, and carbohydrates, which are essential for life processes. Carbon's ability to bond with other elements in a variety of ways makes it incredibly versatile in forming complex molecular structures necessary for life.