Question #6a428

Carbon is the ONLY element whose atoms can form endless bonds with itself: this can result in VERY long chains, and can lead to very intricate molecules. Apart from, to a certain extent, Silicium , no other element has that capability.

Historically, over the past two centuries, scientist (chemists) have been probing organic matter (organic in the sense of: coming from organic matter, i.e. cadavers, body fluids, etc.) and discovered that virtually all (more complex) molecules they extracted and purified were based on carbon skeletons. At the time they probably thought that carbon was a major "source of life" (which, in a way, it is), hence the name "Organic Chemistry".

As science moved on, many more compound were discovered that actually are lethal to life (e.g. Curare), but by then the term "Organic" had settled in and was generally accepted as describing Carbon-based Chemistry.

In Organic Chemistry, Carbon atoms are deemed so essential, that in depictions of molecules they are not even indicated with their symbol, as O, N, S etc do...

These days, the REAL Organic Chemistry is called " Biochemistry "....

Nice pic: part of the steroid-metabolism: (courtesy/copyright: Roche)