Carbon has four electrons in its outer shell. Why does this make it important to life?(1 point)

Question

Responses

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

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.

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 allows carbon to create a diverse array of organic compounds and complex molecules that are essential for life, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.