Carbon has the unique ability to form bonds with other atoms of carbon. This property is known as ______

The correct answer is catenation.

Key Points

• Catenation is the ability of an element to form bonds with other atoms of the same element.
• Carbon atoms can form long chains and rings due to their ability to catenate.
• This property allows carbon to form a vast number of compounds, more than any other element.
• Catenation is a crucial property for the formation of organic molecules, including hydrocarbons and polymers.

Additional Information

• Tetravalency of Carbon:
  • Carbon has four valence electrons, allowing it to form four covalent bonds with other atoms, including other carbon atoms.
• Hydrocarbons:
  • Compounds composed solely of carbon and hydrogen. They are categorized into alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes based on the types of bonds between carbon atoms.
• Isomerism:
  • Carbon compounds can exhibit isomerism, where compounds have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements.
• Polymerization:
  • Carbon compounds can undergo polymerization, where small monomer units join to form large polymers, such as plastics and biological macromolecules.