3 ms·

Thanks for adding to the discussion. I learned something new.

• dogma1138 8y ago
  You were right it's because of the covalent bonds formed, however the biggest difference seems to be not in how these are formed with other elements but how carbon is essentially optimal at bonding with itself creating huge chains. This property is why there are so many different and interesting forms of elemental carbon. These chains are the scaffolding for all biochemistry both because they are very stable and also because they have very interesting properties. Chains can be either open or closed depending on various factors such as charge, temperature and other forces that play on molecular levels allows you to play with that geometry. Having strong chain bonds not only builds stable chains but it also build chains that can change their state while remaining intact and biochemistry heavily relies on the ability to change the geometry of complex molecules without breaking them apart.