Question: Why is carbon the basic element in organic chemistry? Surely there must be at least one other element/compound that forms 3-4 bonds?

Julia Griffen answered on 20 Jun 2011:

Carbon is the basisi for organic chemistry as carbon is the main element that makes up stuff… e.g us humans animals and plants.. from sugars to cells, from plants. All living things contain carbon!

Organic chemistry also deal alot oxygen nitrogen and sometimes sulphur. basically organic chemisty usally makes things that dont use metals… however we do use alot of metals and activating species (called catalysts) to make our organic compounds.

so number of bonds… thats all to do with how many electrons are in the elements outer shell… I’m not sure at which level to pitch this… so bear with me….Carbon has four electrons in its outer shell (2 in its inner and 4 in its outer = total of six). Elements ideally want eight electrons in it outer shell. So carbon wants four more electrons, and it does this by forming four bonds to things. As you go down group 14 you can get to silicon, which can also form 4 bonds. Nitrogen with 5 electrons in its outer shell needs three more elctrons so forms three bonds etc. Look up electron valencies and bonding for further advanced detail…

So basically there are many elements that can form 3-4 bonds… Organic chemistry we’re usually trying to make compound that nature can make easily, e.g hormones medicines and naturally occuring products.

Super question… any more detail do ask via comments.. or if any thing is inclear!