Carbon has the ability to form very long chains of connecting carbon-to-carbon bonds. C-C bonds are very strong, and very stable. This property means that carbon can form thousands and thousands of different compounds. There are more known compounds containing carbon the amount of compounds of the other chemical elements combined (excluding hydrogen because almost all organic compounds contain hydrogen as well). The simplest form of an organic molecule formed by carbon compounds is the hydrocarbon. These molecules are made of hydrogen atoms bonded to chains of carbon atoms. The molecules have different properties based on the chain length and the side chains formed by the different molecules. Carbon also occurs in all known organic life. It is the basis for organic chemistry. When combined with hydrogen, it forms hydrocarbons, which are used as lubricants and solvents and refrigerants. It is also used to manufacture plastic and is used as fossil fuels.

When combined with oxygen and hydrogen, carbon can form compounds such as sugars, alcohols, and fats. When combined with nitrogen it forms alkaloids. With nitrogen and sulfur it forms antibiotics, amino acids, and rubber. When phosphorus is added to these other elements, carbon forms DNA and RNA and also ATP (the energy-transferring molecule in all living cells).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon,

October 30, 2012, 1:17 pm

November 1, 2012 1:07 pm

November 6, 2012 1:02 pm