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Carbon has many compounds because it is capable of bonding with many different elements. First, carbon has 6 total electrons, filling the 1s2 and 2s2 shells completely, with 2 electrons in the 2p orbital. Since it has a relatively low electronegative, it will attempt to complete its octet (a full outer electron shell) either by losing 4 electrons (the 2s2 and 2p2 electrons) or by gaining 4 electrons (to fill the 2p shell from 2p2 to 2p6).

In compounds, carbon can either donate or accept electrons, allowing it to bond to more electronegative compounds like oxygen, or fluorine, or less electronegative compounds like hydrogen. Since it forms compounds with many other elements, that takes care of the many carbon compounds

Polymers are possible because carbon bonds with itself into long chains by lining up side-by-side, while many other elements that bond with themselves will bend into shapes that don't allow for long chains to be formed. Since carbon can form long chains of itself and attach to many other elements, polymers of different types can be made.

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10y ago

There is one property of carbon and it's ability to form different macromolecules. The only property would be the four valence electrons.

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Q: What properties of carbon explain carbons ablilty to form many different macromolecules?
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What are the main component of all macromolecules?

The main components of all macromolecules are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur and phosphorus. These elements combine in various ways to form the complex structures of macromolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.


Why are macromolecules considered to be organic compounds?

Macromolecules are considered organic compounds because they are composed of carbon atoms bonded with other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Organic compounds are defined as compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, and macromolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids meet this criteria.


What two sugars are structural isomer and what makes them different?

Glucose and fructose are two structural isomers: they both have the formula C6H12O6, but differ in the arrangement of those atoms within their molecules. Glucose forms a ring with six carbons, while fructose forms rings with only five carbons (the rest are attached to the outside of the ring.) These different structures give the two different properties and make them react differently.


Do cells contain four kinds of organic macromolecules?

Four classes of organic macromolecules found in cells are:nucleic acidspolysaccharides (= complex carbohydrates)lipidsproteinsthis is exactly what i needed for my 8th grade science homework


Octane and methane are both carbon and hydrogen atoms why are they different?

The difference lies in the molecular structure and arrangement of atoms in each compound. Octane is a straight-chain hydrocarbon with 8 carbon atoms, while methane is a simple hydrocarbon with only one carbon atom. This variance in structure leads to different chemical properties and behaviors between the two compounds.

Related questions

What explains carbons ability to form many different macromolecules?

it can form 4 covalent bonds, so it can form single, double, and triple bonds and it readily bonds with itself.


How does the basic structure of a steriod differ from other macromolecules such as carbohydrates?

a steroids has one ring with five carbons and three rings with six carbons and for carbohydrates: Monosaccharide has only one and a disaccharide has two etc..


How does basic structure of a steroid differ from other macromolecules such as carbohydrates?

a steroids has one ring with five carbons and three rings with six carbons and for carbohydrates: Monosaccharide has only one and a disaccharide has two etc..


What are the main component of all macromolecules?

The main components of all macromolecules are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur and phosphorus. These elements combine in various ways to form the complex structures of macromolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.


Why are macromolecules considered to be organic compounds?

Macromolecules are considered organic compounds because they are composed of carbon atoms bonded with other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Organic compounds are defined as compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, and macromolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids meet this criteria.


What two sugars are structural isomer and what makes them different?

Glucose and fructose are two structural isomers: they both have the formula C6H12O6, but differ in the arrangement of those atoms within their molecules. Glucose forms a ring with six carbons, while fructose forms rings with only five carbons (the rest are attached to the outside of the ring.) These different structures give the two different properties and make them react differently.


Do cells contain four kinds of organic macromolecules?

Four classes of organic macromolecules found in cells are:nucleic acidspolysaccharides (= complex carbohydrates)lipidsproteinsthis is exactly what i needed for my 8th grade science homework


How many carbons does glucose have?

6 carbons 6 carbons


What are the different hydrocarbons called with different numbers of carbons?

First of all the basic different hydrocarbons are Alkanes, Alkenes , & Alkynes. Their names end in '-ane', '-ene' and 'yne', respectively. There are more complex hydrocarbons, such as Benzene(Phenyl) & 'Cyclo-', but for the moment I'll omit these. Next the number of carbons in the chain gives the basic name. Meth = 1 carbon Eth = 2 carbons Prop = 3 carbons Buta = 4 carbons Penta = 5 carbons Hexa = 6 carbons Hepta = 7 carbons Octa = 8 carbons Nons = 9 carbons Deca = 10 carbons So a hydrocarbon , with single bonds, and with two carbons is Ethane A hydrocarbons, with one double bond and three carbons is Propene A hydrocarbon, with one triple bond and four carbons is either But-1-yne or But-2-yne , depending on which carbon in the chain the the double/triple bond starts at. Petroleum/Gassoline is Octane. Benzene is a 6 carbon cyclic ring, with ,???three double bonds,. This a unique arrangement. Other cyclic hydrocarbons are ;- Cyclohexane , Cyclohexene. and Cyclohex-1,3-diene. There are many more. Hopefully that gives a little insight in to the nomenclature (naming system) of hydrocarbons; The IUPAC authority have designed the nomenclature so that the name gives all the elements, structure and position of the atoms in organic compounds.


How many asymmetric carbons are there in sugar ribose?

Ribose, CHO(CHOH)3CH2OH, is an aldopentose with three chiral carbon atoms . .............H O ...............\ // ..........H -- C -- OH .................| ..........H -- C -- OH .................| ..........H -- C -- OH .................| ..........H -- C -- OH .................| ................H


What are the hydrocarbons prefix?

The prefixes for naming hydrocarbons are based on the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. They include: meth- (1 carbon), eth- (2 carbons), prop- (3 carbons), but- (4 carbons), pent- (5 carbons), hex- (6 carbons), hept- (7 carbons), oct- (8 carbons), non- (9 carbons), dec- (10 carbons).


What are some physical properties used to organize the periodic table?

The historically popular chart to which you refer is partially organized by the amount of carbons present in the mole. ;P