Assertion (A): Carbon forms a very large number of compounds.
Reason (R): Carbon atoms can link with other carbon atoms to form long chains, branched chains and rings.
Choose the correct option.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Both (A) and (R) are correct, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Assertion (A): Carbon forms a very large number of compounds. — Correct. Millions of carbon compounds are known, far more than the compounds formed by all the other elements put together.
Reason (R): Carbon atoms can link with other carbon atoms to form long chains, branched chains and rings. — Correct. This property of carbon is called catenation. Together with its tetravalency (four bonds per atom), it allows an enormous variety of molecules, so (R) explains (A).