Question:
What makes carbon such a versatile element in organic chemistry?
Answer:
Carbon is versatile because it has four valence electrons, allowing it to form up to four covalent bonds with other atoms, including itself. This property enables the formation of a wide variety of structures such as chains, rings, and complex 3D frameworks. Carbon’s ability to bond with elements like hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and halogens further expands the diversity of organic compounds, making it the backbone of organic chemist
ry.