Question

Explain the following:

Catenation 

Answer 1

The property of self-linking of atoms of an element through covalent bonds in order to form straight chains, branched chains and cyclic chains of different sizes is known as catenation.

A carbon-carbon bond is strong, so carbon can combine with other carbon atoms to form chains or rings and it can involve single, double, and triple bonds.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
|\phantom{....}|\phantom{....}|\phantom{....}|\phantom{}\\
\ce{- C - C - C - C -}\\
|\phantom{....}|\phantom{....}|\phantom{....}|\phantom{}
\end{array}\]