Carbon Chemistry and Life Quiz

What is the main element that all living things on earth are based on?

• Nitrogen

• Carbon

• Oxygen

• Silicon

What is the percentage of carbon in our body composition?

• 20%

• 50%

• 100%

• 4%

Why is carbon able to form complex molecular structures needed for the complex chemistry that life requires?

• It is chemically inert

• It is the most abundant element on earth

• It can share up to 4 additional electrons from other atoms to form covalent bonds

• It has a complete outer shell of electrons

Which of the following elements can form the maximum number of bonds with other elements?

• Oxygen

• Silicon

• Carbon

• Nitrogen

Why does carbon form the backbone of organic chemistry?

• Abundance

• Stable bonds with other carbon atoms

• Ability to form complex structures

• All of the above

Which element is in the same column on the periodic table below carbon?

• Germanium

• Nitrogen

• Silicon

• Boron

Silicon can also make 4 covalent bonds. Silicon is a heavier element than carbon, and its outer electrons are farther from the nucleus, so it's outer electron bonds are _______.

• weaker

• stronger

• inert

• harder

What is the Atomic Number of Carbon? (How many protons and corresponding electrons does it have?)

• 12

• 256

• 6

• 1

What are the top 5 most abundant element in our solar system?

• Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Calcium

• Oxygen, Carbon, Silver, Nitrogen, Calcium

• Helium, Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Gold

• Hydrogen, Helium, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen

What does the term "organic" mean in Chemistry?

• Earth-based

• farmed without artificial pesticides or fertilizers

• Carbon-based

• All of the above