Which property of carbon allows it to bond well with itself and form stable compounds?

• A. Carbon has a high electronegativity, which prevents it from bonding with itself.
• B. Carbon atoms are too large to form stable bonds with each other.
• C. Carbon only forms ionic bonds with itself, leading to stable compounds.
• D. Carbon can form strong covalent bonds with other carbon atoms due to its four valence electrons.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the question is about the property of carbon that enables it to bond well with itself and form stable compounds.
2. Recall that carbon has four valence electrons, which allows it to form up to four covalent bonds with other atoms, including other carbon atoms.
3. Recognize that covalent bonding involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, leading to strong and stable bonds.
4. Note that carbon's ability to form strong covalent bonds with other carbon atoms results in the formation of long chains and complex structures, which are the basis of many stable organic compounds.
5. Conclude that the key property is carbon's tetravalency (four valence electrons) enabling strong covalent bonding with itself, rather than ionic bonding or size-related limitations.