Science (086) — AI-generated practice question

Catenation is the unique ability of carbon atoms to form bonds with other carbon atoms, giving rise to large molecules with long chains, branched chains, or ring structures.

Carbon exhibits catenation to a much greater extent than silicon because the carbon–carbon bond is very strong and stable. Silicon can form chains of only up to 7–8 atoms, but those compounds are very reactive and unstable.

Source: Chapter 4, Section 4.2 – Versatile Nature of Carbon

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• Define catenation clearly in one line — examiners expect the exact term and its meaning.
• The key reason for the difference is bond strength: C–C bond is stronger than Si–Si bond due to carbon's small atomic size, allowing the nucleus to hold shared electrons more tightly.
• Mentioning silicon's chain limit (7–8 atoms) and their reactivity adds a comparative point that fetches the second mark.