Question

Which of these statements best explains how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and other large carbon-based molecules?
Responses
A Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen can form bonds with other atoms, allowing them to combine into larger molecules.Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen can form bonds with other atoms, allowing them to combine into larger molecules.
B Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen can form a mixture, allowing them to combine into larger molecules.Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen can form a mixture, allowing them to combine into larger molecules.
C Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen can change phases from gas to liquid, allowing them to combine into larger molecules.Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen can change phases from gas to liquid, allowing them to combine into larger molecules.
D Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen cannot form bonds with other atoms, and therefore cannot combine into larger molecules.

Answer 1

A

Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen form chemical bonds (especially covalent bonds). Carbon's four valence electrons let it bond in many configurations, allowing C, H and O from sugars to be rearranged and joined with other elements (like nitrogen and sulfur) to build amino acids and larger carbon-based molecules.