Question

Dear expert why does carbon have highest catenation property

Answer 1

Dear Student,
Catenation is the bonding of atoms of the same element into a series, called a chain. ... Catenation occurs most readily with carbon, which forms covalent bonds with other carbon atoms to form longer chains and structures. This is the reason for the presence of the vast number of organic compounds in nature.

Reason…

Carbon is not the only one with catenation property. Silicon shows it to quite a good extent, sulphur and boron has also been shown to catenate.

Carbon has highest degree of catenation because:
1. High C-C bond energy
2. Tetravalency (Hence, It can form large number of bonds).
3. Small atomic size hence less diffused orbital

Regards