what is the special about the compounds of carbon that they should be separated from compounds of all the other hundred-odd elements of the periodic table?
Answers
Answer:
Carbon is the most versatile element in the periodic table.
Explanation:
There are 5 reasons for carbons specialty,
1) Ability to form long carbon to carbon chains as it has a valency of four. This results in the formation of millions of compounds.
2) Carbon atoms bond with themselves not only in straight chains but also in complex branches , rings and various structures.
3) Carbon cannot only share one electron to form single bond but can also share multiple to form double and triple bonds with various elements.
4) They can form isomers, which means the same molecule but in different geometrical arrangement.
5) All of the electrons which are not being used to bond carbon atoms in chains can be used to form different bonds with different elements. For example oxygen or hydrogen.
These reasons make carbon massively versatile which no other element in the periodic table possesses.
Hope it helps!!