Carbon. Carbon is unique in that it has 6 protons and 6 electrons. Carbon atom can form double or triple bonds with other elements like carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, etc. Unit: Properties of carbon. Carbon. Carbon can form ionic bonds (generally with metals), but is most commonly found in organic molecules where it forms covalent bonds. Carbon's ability to form long carbon-to-carbon chains is the first of five reasons that there can be so many different carbon compounds; a molecule that differs by even one atom is, of course, a molecule of a different compound. List at least three (3) characteristics of carbon that make it a unique element. Carbon is unique in its chemical properties because it forms a number of components superior than the total addition of all the other elements in combination with each other. 2 See answers Skrttskrtt Skrttskrtt 1.) Unit: Properties of carbon. Carbon as a building block of life (Opens a modal) Silicon-based life (Opens a modal) Carbon and hydrocarbons (Opens a modal) Representing structures of organic molecules (Opens a modal) Hydrocarbon structures and functional groups. One of the properties that makes Carbon unique is its ability to create four covalent bonds allowing it to link to itself in order to create carbon chains of various lengths and configurations, or to connect to non-carbon atoms in order to form compounds with unique and specialized chemical properties. Group 4 elements all prefer 4 bonds (Si, Ge, Sn, Pb). These different molecules are called isomers. Biology library. Though carbon has a relatively low atomic mass, one would expect hydrogen to be the most relevant element if low mass was the most pertinent property of carbon. Carbon is unique among the elements in its ability to form strongly bonded chains, sealed off by hydrogen atoms. The above mentioned unique properties of carbon have been able to form large number of organic compounds. Also, carbon has 4 valence electrons, that is 4 bonding electrons; carbon "prefers" to form 4 bonds. Carbon is small and has four valence electrons; these factors combine into a unique structure that allows it to easily make a chain of carbon atoms. Despite the enormous commercial and scientific potential of carbon aerogels, only a few recent reviews and book chapters have, unfortunately, a … 2.) Lessons. 1. These hydrocarbons, extracted naturally as fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), are mostly used as fuels. The diamond allotropic form of carbon is the hardest substance known. Combustion. The biggest group of all these components is the one formed by carbon and hydrogen. The following is a deeper understanding of how these unique properties of tetra-valency and catenation result in a highly versatile nature of carbon: Tetra-valency of Carbon (Source: Wikipedia) Versatile Nature of Carbon. Carbon has the atomic number of 6, meaning each carbon atom has a total of six electrons. Eg. The unique properties of carbon aerogels are motivating research on their synthesis and application. Chemical properties of carbon compounds . Carbon Compounds are the backbone of all organic compounds that are the basic building blocks of all living things. Carbon isn't the only element that "prefers" 4 bonds. Learn. ... makes a molecule with a different shape and hence different properties. All the allotropic forms of carbon burn in the presence of oxygen releasing carbon dioxide along with heat and light. It creates covalent bonds — the strongest bonds between atoms. 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