Which one of the following elements forms highest number of compounds?

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Oxygen

Hydrogen

Chlorine

Carbon

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2017

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Carbon forms the highest number of compounds among the given options. This is due to its unique chemical properties, forming the basis of organic chemistry.

Carbon atoms can form strong covalent bonds with other carbon atoms, creating long chains, branched structures, and rings (catenation). Carbon also forms strong bonds with many other elements, including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and halogens. Carbon can form single, double, and triple bonds. This versatility allows carbon to form an enormous variety of stable compounds.

Hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine form many compounds (oxides, acids, salts, hydrides, etc.), but the sheer number and diversity of organic compounds containing carbon far exceeds the number of compounds formed by these other elements. The field of organic chemistry is dedicated solely to the study of carbon compounds (with a few exceptions like carbon oxides, carbonates, and cyanides, which are often considered inorganic).

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