Question

please explain the unique nature of carbon atoms​

Answer 1

Answer:

the unique features of carbon are tetravalency and catenation

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

Versatile Nature of Carbon

But what makes Carbon such an interesting element can be directly attributed to its two unique properties, i.e. tetra-valency and catenation. It is because of these properties that the element has the capacity to form a large number of compounds.Not only is carbon the fourth most abundant element in the universe, it has so far more than three million compounds know to us till date.

The following is a deeper understanding of how these unique properties of tetra-valency and catenation result in a highly versatile nature of carbon:

Tetra-valency of Carbon

Propane

(Source: Wikipedia) Versatile Nature of Carbon

Carbon has the atomic number of 6, meaning each carbon atom has a total of six electrons. Two are in the completed inner orbit, while four electrons are found in the atom’s outermost orbit. This basically means that carbon has four valence electrons (outer electrons that are available for forming bonds with other atoms). Because of this arrangement within the atom’s orbits, carbon is called tetravalent.

The carbon’s four valence electrons can be shared by other atoms (that have electrons to share), thus forming what we call covalent bonds (shared electrons bonds). The carbon atom also has the ability to form a bond with other carbon atoms to create covalent bonds forming long strings of carbon atoms, bonded to each other like links in a chain.

Silicon (Si), another element in group 14 of the periodic table, also has four valence electrons and can make large molecules called silicones. But due to its higher atomic number (in comparison to Carbon), its atoms are too large to fit together into as great a variety of molecules as carbon atoms can.

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