CARBONS

Importance of carbon:

1.   Basic elements:

Carbon is the basic element of organic compounds. Due to its unique properties carbon occupies the central position in the skeleton of life.

 2.   Tetravalent:

 Carbon is tetravalent. It can react with many other known elements forming covalent bonds.

3.   Give a stable configuration

When a carbon atom combines with four atoms or radicals the four bounds are arranged symmetrically in a tetrahedron and result to give a stable configuration. The stability associated with the tetravalency of carbon atoms makes it a favorable elements for the synthesis of complicated cellular structures.

4.   C-C Bonds:

Carbon atoms can also combine mutually forming stable branched or unbranched chains or rings. This ability of carbon is responsible for the vast variety of organic compounds. C-C bonds form a skeleton of organic molecules as shoe in Fig.

Fig. Unbranched and branched chains and ring structure formed by C-C bonds.

5.   Combination with other elements:

Carbon combines commonly with other elements like H, O, N, P and S. Combination with these and other elements contributes to the large variety of organic compounds. Carbon and hydrogen bond (C-H bond) is the potential source of chemical energy for cellular activities. Carbon-oxygen association in glycosidic linkages provides stability to the complex