Question

Which characteristics of carbon are responsible for the existence of a large number of organic compounds
A.Catenation
B.Multiple bond formation
C.Isomerism
D.All of these

Answer 1

Hint:To answer this question, you should recall the concept of properties of organic compounds. Carbon can form a large number of organic compounds because of its ability to form long chain bonds with itself and many other metals as well as non-metals.

Complete step by step answer:
Let us analyse each of the property of carbon which enables it to form organic compounds:
Catenation: The unique property of the enables carbon to form continuous links with other carbon atoms through covalency
Tetravalency: The carbon atoms’ four valence electrons can be shared by other atoms that have electrons to share, thus forming covalent bonds.
 Isomerism: All the carbon compounds which contain just carbon and hydrogen are called hydrocarbons. Isomerism arises from the difference in the structure of the carbon chain which forms the nucleus of the molecule. We know that isomers are defined as the molecules with the same molecular formula but possess a different arrangement of the atoms in space or different connectivity of atoms. The phenomenon in which the molecules in which the atoms that form the isomers are connected differently is known as structural isomerism. The phenomenon in which the connectivity of atoms is the same in isomers but a different spatial arrangement is a stereoisomerism.
Multiple Bonding: Carbon atoms can share not only a single electron with another atom to form a single bond, but it can also share two or three electrons, forming a double or triple bond.

Therefore, the correct answer to this question is option D.

Note:
You should know that carbon due to its capability of having variable oxidation states or coordination numbers makes carbon one of the few elements to have multiple numbers of allotropic forms. Carbon’s ability to catenate is another contributing factor. Thus, it leads to the formation of various allotropes of carbon.