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 is full, making it a stable element that can bond to water.
The outermost shell is full, making it a stable element that can bond to water.

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 can only bond with hydrogen and other carbon atoms.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

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

This property of carbon is crucial for the complexity and diversity of biological molecules, as it can create a variety of structures such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, which are all essential for life.