Why is carbon so important in biological molecules?

Answer 1

Because since carbon is a group 4 element it has four bonds and can form an extremely wide range of compounds and molecular structures. Also, being in the middle of the Periodic Table it can bond with both metals and non metals. It is the main component of almost all long chain molecules. Being the lightest group 4 element it can form many stable combinations. Silicon, the next lightest group 4 element can form quite a few but nowhere near the variety that carbon can. All sugars, alcohols, plastics, petroleum products, proteins, etc are based around carbon atoms

Answer 2

An organic compound, by definition, is one which contains carbon and at least one of: hydrogen or oxygen.

Such organic compounds are common because carbon can bond with up to four separate elements at one time. Many of these compounds are necessary for life on earth.

Answer 3

Because since carbon is a group 4 element it has four bonds and can form an extremely wide range of compounds and molecular structures. Also, being in the middle of the Periodic Table it can bond with both metals and non metals. It is the main component of almost all long chain molecules. Being the lightest group 4 element it can form many stable combinations. Silicon, the next lightest group 4 element can form quite a few but nowhere near the variety that carbon can. All sugars, alcohols, plastics, petroleum products, proteins, etc are based around carbon atoms

Answer 4

1) Carbon has very high melting point and sublimation point. This gives it advantage over other elements that are common in biological molecules such as H, N or O.

2) In addition, it can form multiple strong covalent bonds with other atoms (N, H, O, C). Just look at the bond energy and you can see that C can form really strong bonds. Since carbon from strong covalent bonds, the molecules will overall be more stable. Also, when you 'burn' molecules such as carbohydrate or fat for energy, breaking of these bonds will give you more energy.

3) It is the most 'versatile' element in the sense that it can form single bond (C-C), double bonds (C=C) or triple bonds.

4)Its small atomic size gives carbon an advantage over silicon which has similar chemical properties to carbon. Smaller atom gives it less spatial interference, & allow the molecules to become more compact.

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Answer 5

The carbon atom tends to form four bonds, unlike most other atoms; hydrogen forms only one, and oxygen forms two, nitrogen forms three. Because carbon forms four bonds, carbon can create complex molecular structures, and therefore creates a more complex and versatile chemistry, which life depends upon.

Answer 6

it is due to 3 reasons 1. carbon is a tetravalent atom.. so may form four covalent bonds in different direction... tetrahedrally 2. carbon is the smallest tetravalent atom .. so forms strong covalent bonds 3. carbon is most abundant tetravalent atom...

Answer 7

All living things contain carbon, so organic molecules must contain carbon

Answer 8

Carbon is important to organic compounds because of its unique bonding properties. The building block of all organisms is carbon and without it, life would not exist.