Question

What property of carbon makes it essential for organic life?

Short answer

The tendency of carbon to give rise to long chains ofinterconnecting carbon-carbon bonds makes it essential for organic life.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Introduction

The macromolecules, also known as complex molecules are the essential constituents of the cells. They are a subset of organic molecules, which are very essential for life. The basic component for all the macromolecules iscarbon.

Explanation

Carbon possesses an exceptional tendency to combine with an enormous variety of other elements. Carbon tends to provide four electrons accessible for the formation of covalent bonds, this permits the atoms of carbon to produce multiple stable bonds with other small atoms like oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

The atom of carbon may producesingle, double, or triple bonds with other atoms of carbon. This permits the atoms of carbon to produce an enormous variety of different large and complex molecules. The carbon possesses the tendency to produce very long chains of interconnecting carbon-carbon bonds. This characteristic permits carbon to produce the backbone of the carbon-containing compounds or the organic compounds, which are the basis of all organic life.