Carbon is the basis for all life: 1) Describe the structure of a carbon atom and
ID: 179577 • Letter: C
Question
Carbon is the basis for all life:
1) Describe the structure of a carbon atom and how its structure leads to its versatility. Your answer should include a discussion of the types of and how many bonds it can form and why/how the bonds are formed.
2) The carbon atom goes through many amazing transformations, serving many different purposes as it's incorporated from one molecule to another. Describe the journey that a single carbon atom might take starting as CO2 in the atomosphere, being absorbed by a plant and ultimately used to make ATP. (Answer should include a discussion of photosynthesis and respiration, how these two processes are connected, their various phases, purposes, and where in the cells they occur).
Explanation / Answer
Carbon 15th most abundant element has atomiv no. 16
6 electrons, 4 outermost valence electrons contribute to its bonding in various compounds.
Due to this structure of carbon and its relative abundance in the nature it is very versatile element.
It forms nearly 10 milliom compounds with the other elements which is far more than any other existing element on the planet
Carbon can form very long chains of interconnecting C-C bonds, a property that is called catenation.
Carbon-carbon bonds are strong and stable. Through catenation, carbon forms a countless number of compounds.
When there is a sharing of only a single pair of electron aingle bond is formed.
When 2 pairs of electrons are shared double bond is formed and when 3 pairs of electrons are shared triple bond is formed.
Now this carbon which is available in the atmosphere in the form of CO2 is taken up by plants and utilised to produce energy with the help of sunlight and water the process is called as photosynthesis.
This carbon present in CO2 molecule gets reduced to glucose ie. C6H12O6.
this is stored by the plants for future use.
Now when the plants need energy , this glucose molecule is oxidised or broken down to produce carbon dioxide which is liberated back into the atmosphere again.