What are the three chains do carbon form?

Answer 1

If I understand the question properly, carbon atoms can form straight chains, with single or double-bonds: -C-C-C-C-C=C-C=C-

Carbons may form rings, where a chain of 5 or 6 carbons forms a bond between the head and the tail.

And carbons may form a 6-member ring with half of the bonds being double bonds. This unique ring is called an "aromatic (or, benzene) ring."

Answer 2

Carbon as an element has the ability to catenate. That is to combine with itself to form long chains.

Any two carbon atoms combining may form a single bonds(C-C), a double bond(C=C) or a triple bond(C///C).

These three types of bond are named as Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes.

Note there is only one letter difference between each class.

This ability to catenate allows carbon atoms in a chain to bend and form rings e.g. benzene. These chains also form the 'backbone' of many polymers.

However, on a completely different tack, carbon form three allotopes. They are graphite, diamond and footballene (buckminster fullerene).

There are also three common isotopes of carbon . They are Carbon(12) the commonest, Carbon(13) used in nmr analysis and carbon(14) used in dating ancient artifacts.

Answer 3

Carbon can form three main types of chains: straight chains, branched chains, and cyclic chains. Straight chains are linear arrangements of carbon atoms. Branched chains have carbon atoms branching off from the main chain. Cyclic chains form closed rings of carbon atoms.