Why does carbon give rise to so many different kinds of molecules?

Answer 1

Carbon is the sixth most abundant molecule and has the ability to form four covalent bonds, lending it the properties needed to connect other molecules to form complex chains. Complex DNA molecules can encode information about heredity, and complex amino acid chains can form enzymes. Silicon has the same valence, but due to it's larger size the bonds are not as strong and larger molecules are less stable.

http://www.answers.com/carbon?cat=health&ff=1

Answer 2

Carbon has a unique ability to bond with itself in countless combinations, patterns, ratios, and with many metals and most nonmetals. It can also covalently share up to 4 spaces on its valence electron shell so it can make multiple bonds with itself and other elements.

Other tetravalent elements theoretically have this same capacity, but in actual practice they're not nearly as likely as carbon to do so, because they form much stronger bonds with oxygen than they do with other atoms of the same type (carbon forms stronger bonds with oxygen, too, but the difference is not as great). So in nature you don't get long chains of, say, silicon atoms because the silicon would much rather combine with oxygen, so instead you get silicon dioxide pretty much exclusively if there's any oxygen around (and oxygen is the third most common element in the universe, so there's usually some around).

For a much more detailed answer to this question, I recommend the (short and very readable, even if you're not a chemistry wonk) essay by Isaac Asimov entitled "The One and Only." It can be found in the essay collection "The Tragedy of the Moon". Any halfway decent public or school library should have (or at least be able to borrow through interlibrary loan) a copy for you.

Answer 3

Carbon can form four covalent bonds with other molecules because it has four valence electrons.

Answer 4

Carbon has 4 valence electrons. Therefore, it can be made into many different molecules. :)

Answer 5

Carbon has a valency of 4. Due to this it can form many different type of molecules.

Answer 6

Carbon is an important element with an atomic number 6. Every one atom of carbon has 6 electrons enabling it to form bonds with other atoms and make a large variety of molecules.