what makes carbon such a versatile element

Carbon is a versatile element primarily due to its unique bonding properties. It has four valence electrons, allowing it to form four stable covalent bonds (tetravalency) with other atoms, including other carbon atoms. This leads to the ability of carbon to form strong, stable bonds with itself (catenation), creating long chains, branched structures, and rings. Additionally, carbon can form single, double, and triple bonds, further increasing its bonding diversity and the complexity of compounds it can form. Its small atomic size supports strong covalent bond overlap, contributing to the stability and variety of these compounds. These properties enable carbon to be the backbone of millions of organic compounds, ranging from simple molecules to complex biomolecules essential for life.