Question

question 15 of 30
why can carbon form so many compounds?

a. carbon can bond with all of the elements in the periodic table.

b. each carbon atom can form ionic or covalent bonds.

c. each carbon atom can form up to eight bonds.

d. carbon can form single, double, or triple bonds.

Explanation:

• Option A: Carbon can't bond with all elements (e.g., noble gases under normal conditions), so A is wrong.
• Option B: Carbon mainly forms covalent bonds; ionic bonding is rare for carbon, so B is incorrect.
• Option C: Carbon has 4 valence electrons, so it forms up to 4 bonds, not 8. C is wrong.
• Option D: Carbon can form single, double, or triple covalent bonds with itself and other atoms, allowing for diverse molecular structures and many compounds. This is correct.

Answer:

D. Carbon can form single, double, or triple bonds.