Question

What makes Carbon a unique element that is considered as the basis of life?

a.) Its Symbol
b.) Its four valence electrons
c.) Its six electrons
d.) Its six protons

Answer 1

Answer:

The reason is carbon's ability to form stable bonds with many elements, including itself. This property allows carbon to form a huge variety of very large and complex molecules.

Answer 2

Its four valence electrons (option b) makes carbon a unique element that is considered as the basis of life.

This is because:

• In a carbon atom, there are four electrons in the valence shell.  To achieve octet it has to either gain or lose four electrons.
• But this is not possible due to the high amount of energy, therefore, it shares electrons and forms a covalent bond with atoms.
• The four valence electrons allow carbon to form four covalent bonds with itself or other atoms.
• The energy required for the formation of a covalent bond with a carbon atom is at an appropriate level. This characteristic helps carbon to form thousands of unique organic compounds.
• The carbon compounds include organic molecules which is the basic macronutrient of living things.
• The important compound of biochemical reactions in living things is also carbon derivatives. For example, Carbohydrates, Glucose, Starch, Glycogen, Ketone, etc
• Hence Carbon is considered the basis of life due to its unique characteristic.