Question

Carbon has four electrons in its outer shell. Why does this make it important to life?(1 point) Responses The outermost shell can form up to four covalent bonds and this allows it to form biomolecules. The outermost shell can form up to four covalent bonds and this allows it to form biomolecules. The outermost shell can only bond with hydrogen and other carbon atoms. The outermost shell can only bond with hydrogen and other carbon atoms. The outermost shell never fills making it unstable and unable to bond to other carbon molecules. The outermost shell never fills making it unstable and unable to bond to other carbon molecules. The outermost shell is full, making it a stable element that can bond to water.

Answer 1

The correct response is: **The outermost shell can form up to four covalent bonds and this allows it to form biomolecules.**

This ability to form multiple covalent bonds makes carbon a versatile building block for a wide variety of complex molecules essential for life, such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.