• Question: why is carbon a special element

    Asked by jessicaobiorah to Louise, Michaela, Sian, Steve, Yvette on 15 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Louise Johnson

      Louise Johnson answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      It’s special because carbon atoms can make lots of connections with other atoms, so carbon can form long, variable molecules like DNA and proteins.
      People have speculated about other kinds of chemistry life could use, but only carbon, and perhaps silicon, can make the big molecules life needs.

    • Photo: Michaela Livingstone

      Michaela Livingstone answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      Carbon is special because it’s solid can exist in three different types, but most importantly it’s atomic structure is such that it can form the sorts of organic molecules that makes life! The characteristics of which allow for breaking and making bonds that’s biologically achievable… etc. Carbon is in our DNA and proteins. It’s pretty important.

    • Photo: Yvette Wilson

      Yvette Wilson answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      for me, because of the way it bonds with other molecules like hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur, phosphorous and nitrogen to make the structure of life!

    • Photo: Steven Kiddle

      Steven Kiddle answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      Im not a chemist, so this is part guesswork.

      Carbon can make a lot of chemical bonds, this allows it form long chainlike molecules that are essential for life, like DNA, RNA and proteins.

Comments