Why is carbon such a versatile and abundant atom in living systems? Select all correct answers (more than one may apply) A. There is a lot of carbon available in the Earth's crust. B. Carbon has a full valence electron shell and hence is chemically stable. C. Carbon can form up to four covalent bonds with other atoms. D. Carbon can make many kinds of molecules - it can form long chains with other carbon atoms as well as atoms of other elements. E. Carbon can form quadruple covalent bonds with itself.
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There is a lot of carbon available in the earth's crust: This is true, but it doesn't explain why carbon is versatile in living systems. B. Carbon has a full valence electron shell and hence is chemically stable: This is incorrect. Carbon has 4 valence electrons, Show more…
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