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Why does carbon form so many more compounds than other elements?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
1. It can form bonds with up to four other atoms;
2. Its bond energy to other carbon atoms is not very much weaker than its bond energy with oxygen.
For a much fuller discussion of why both these things are important, see "The One and Only" by Isaac Asimov. You can find it in the collection The Tragedy of the Moon. (Or, if you're lucky enough to have a copy of the November 1972 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, it's in there too.)
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoCarbon is not a metal, but forms more compounds than any metal as it has 4 valence, electrons, allowing for up to 4 atoms to be attached to it. Most metals only have 1 or 2 electrons. also, because all compounds of carbon are covalently bound, this allows for double and triple bonds to occur, allowing for an even larger range of compounds to be formed.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agocarbon forms so many compounds because of its property "catenation"....
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What elements will be present in the substantces that are created when ethanol burns?
When ethanol is burned, the elements remain, but form different compounds. the elements are: Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen, and they form Carbon Dioxide and Dihydrogen Monixide.
What percentage of compounds are organic?
Carbon atoms can form single, double, and triple bonds with each other, and they can form chains, branched chains, and rings. Carbon compounds also have hydrogen atoms as part of their structure, as well as other elements.
What characteristic does carbon have that explains why no other element can form the amount and variety of molecules that carbon has?
Carbon can form four bonds with different elements and/or other carbon elements.
What compounds form the element gadolinium and how are they used?
Compounds do not form elements. Elements form compounds.
Which elements form the largest number of compounds- Hydrogen or oxygen or Silicon or Carbon?
Boron (B)
What are some compounds that form when carbon combines with other elements?
t
What are the inorganic elements?
All elements other than carbon are likely to form inorganic compounds, and even carbon is at least sometimes found in inorganic compounds such as calcium carbonate.
What element other than Carbon has atoms that will react with other elements to form a variety of compounds?
There are very many elements which will do that.
Is carbon unusual among the elements in that it forms very few compounds with other elements?
No. It is exactly the opposite. Carbon forms many varied molecules, especially organic compounds with oxygen and hydrogen. The noble gases are the elements that form few compounds.
Are most nonmetals able to form compounds with other elements?
It is Carbon(C) and Hydrogen(H)
Can lead mix with other elements?
Yes, all elements can mix with any other elements. Also any element except the noble gases can form compounds with other elements. Lead will tend to form similar compounds to those that carbon forms, but unlike the carbon compounds these lead compounds are very toxic!
How do carbon form many organic compounds?
Yes, carbon (C) forms more compounds than all the other elements combined. Any compound that contains carbon is considered an organic compound.
Which element forms more compounds than all the other elements combined?
Carbon is the element that forms maximum number of compounds
How are carbon atoms able to form organic compounds?
Yes, carbon (C) forms more compounds than all the other elements combined. Any compound that contains carbon is considered an organic compound.
What elements can uranium combine with to form a compound?
Uranium form chemical compounds with the majority of the other elements.
What elements will be present in the substantces that are created when ethanol burns?
When ethanol is burned, the elements remain, but form different compounds. the elements are: Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen, and they form Carbon Dioxide and Dihydrogen Monixide.
Why are there more materials than elements?
Because the elements can combine in many ways to form compounds, and compounds can be mixed in many differed ways. Moreover, some elements occur in different forms. The elements carbon and hydrogen alone combine for form thousands of compounds.
