Chapter 3, Problem 1TYU

Summary Introduction

Introduction: Carbon occurs widely in nature in both inorganic and organic forms. Organic compounds are chemical compounds, where carbon atoms form the backbone of the molecule by bonding covalently. The inorganic forms of carbon are very simple carbon compound that are not bonded either to hydrogen or another carbon.

Answer to Problem 1TYU

Correct answer: Carbon is particularly well suited to be the backbone of organic molecules because it can bond to atoms of a large number of other elements. Hence, the correct answer is option (d).

Explanation of Solution

Reasons for the correct answer:

Option (d) is given as “it can bond to atoms of a large number of other elements”.

Carbon serves as the backbone of large molecules as carbon–carbon bonds are strong as compared to other bonds. Carbon atoms form straight or branched chains or rings. A greater number of covalent bonds with different atoms is formed by carbon atoms than the other atoms.

Hence, the correct answer is option (d).

Reasons for incorrect answers:

Option (a) is given as “it can form both covalent bonds and ionic bonds”.

Carbon atoms can only form covalent bonds not ionic bonds. Hence, option (a) is incorrect.

Option (b) is given as “its covalent bonds are very irregularly arranged in three-dimensional space”. Covalent bonds of carbon are accurately arranged in 3-D space. Hence, option (b) is incorrect.

Option (c) is given as “its covalent bonds are the strongest chemical bonds known”.

Carbon covalent bonds are the strongest chemical bonds, but there are other elements whose covalent bonds are stronger than carbon. For example, carbon–hydrogen sigma covalent bonds are stronger than carbon–carbon covalent bonds. Hence, option (c) is incorrect.

Option (e) is given as “all the bonds it forms are polar”.

Carbon can also form non-polar bonds. Hence, option (e) is incorrect.

Hence, options (a), (b), (c), and (e) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Carbon serves as the backbone of organic molecules because it can bond to atoms of a large number of other elements.