What are the two properties of carbon which lead to the huge number of carbon compounds we see around us?

Options

A. `catenation and bivalent`
B. `catenation and trivalent`
C. `catenation and tertavalent`
D. `catenation and petnavalent`

Answer

C

Explanation

(i) Catenation. Carbon has the unique property of self linking which is known as catenation. In fact, any number of carbon atoms can be linked to one another by covalent bonds. This is on account of the stability of C-C bonds since the size of the carbon atom is quite small.
(ii) linking of carbon with other atoms. Carbon is tetravelent in nature and can readily unite with atoms like hydrogen, oxygen,nitrogen, sulphur etc. By electron sharing.