Question

Explain the fact that why organic com pounds are Iarge in number.

Answer 1

Organic compounds are large in number due to the following unique properties of carbon atom:

a) Tetra covalency of carbon : Carbon has four alence shell electrons. Thus it always forms covalent bonds by sharing electrons with other atoms.

b) Catenation : it is the property of combining any number of carbon atoms to form straight chains, branched chains and rings of different sizes.

c) Formation of multiple bonds: due to small size carbon atom can form multiple bonds with not only carbon but with atoms of other elements like oxyzen, nitrogen etc.

d) isomerism : It forms large number of compounds due to isomerism by means of which compounds  having same molecular formula can be have different structural formula.