Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

name         Christopher
status       student
grade        K-3
location     TN

Question -   Is carbon the only element that can connect with itself?
Or can all of the elements connect with themselves?
-----------------
Christopher,

Most of the elements can combine with themselves but carbon does it in a
special way that allows long chains to form.  There are a few other elements
that form similar structures (Silicon, for example), but most elements form
either short molecules or they form three dimensional structures (crystals).

Greg Bradburn
=====================================================