Would silicon be as good an element upon which to base a life form as carbon? If not why not?
961116
non carbon-based life would be too different from life on earth. a DNA molecule constructed from a Si backbone instead of C would be too heavy and too large to function properly.\n\ncarbon is basically one of the more unique elements on the table, being small and reactive (as opposed to silicon or other group iv's). it can form bonds with itself or many other atoms. this property is responsible for literally millions of chemical compounds(most compounds on earth contain carbon) known to man.\n\ncarbon bonds with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, necessary for the life. silicon dioxide on the other hand, is completely different. SiO2 is sand.\n\nyou could compare carbon with say, water, which is also one of the weirdest compounds known to scientists. yet carbon and water are necessary for all life. i would say that the most interesting elements are the most necessary. silicon is just too normal...
272583
All living creatures are made up of carbon.  You can't be alive without it.  It is what separates being a living thing (plant or animal) from a non living thing (stone).
715462
Mars could, since there is carbon there and it's got its own protective layer the only thing left is water.... there is some evidence that mars has got water in it so we could take that risk\n\nanyway if the time comes then we'll probarbly have some way of sombining the hydrogen to the oxygen- making water!
859468
Elements are Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphate, Oxygen
993984
The search for extraterrestrial life is an ancient one. However, you must be specific in asking a question as this, because the question concerning 'extraterrestrials' has evolved gradually from "extraterrestrial intelligence" to "extraterrestrial life". Observe the news story at the link below, for instance. \n\nAlso, it has been mentioned that for a search of extraterrestrial lifeforms, scientists and observers should learn to broaden their point of view: not every lifeform will look like a human or an appletree. Such far-fetched ideas as "silicon based lifeforms" have been proposed -- of course, you are aware that we are all 'carbon based lifeforms'. \n\nIn short, has anything been found? It's hard to tell, but in all likelihood there is something out there. Its influence on human culture and history isn't hard to observe.
945036
Well, most elements are important to the human body and industry.\n\nTake carbon (C) for example.  Carbon is the quintessential element of organic chemistry, and therefore life itself!  But carbon finds numerous applications in industry, from carbon steel to plastics (which are composed of carbon based polymers) to the gasoline that you put in your vehicle.
1112040
it is possible that an atom can support life like the earth does,  but if it does, then it would be way different and ofcource smaller. the things that make up the earth perfect to support life may be different in an electron. but it is something to think about. interesting question
723836
Almost any living organism could live in mars with all those elements. The only thing that MIGHT be not there is the atmosphere, it's too thin, but that might not harm those damn roaches! (I have too many roaches in my house)
650823
Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen.
394104
Yes. Everything is a chemical element.\n\nCSO2 I believe.
30562
carbon is tetravalent (ie it is able to form bonds with 4 other atoms. It therefore can form backbones of more complex structures (see diamond and graphite). It is also found abundantly on earth.
361723
YES.\n\nthere are always "isotopes" of common elements in the body such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, etc.  present at any given time.\n\nisotopes are chemically identical to their "regular" counterpart elements but differ by one or two neutrons in their atoms.  this makes some isotopes radioactive ( a fact which can be measured as in carbon-14 dating ).  \n\nthe effect of this radiation is exceedingly small and of no concern to life.
582417
Cells are made from atoms--life is carbon based.  God is amazing, yes?  I don't see how any of this could have happened by accident!\n\nRemember, the only way to Paradise is through accepting Jesus as Savior!
582505
haha, you're looking into the intelligent design debate hey?\n\nRadioactive elements are materials which decay over time into other elements. Carbon 14+ is such an element. Overtime it decays into other forms of Carbon, like Carbon 12+ I think. Scientists know exactly how long it takes for half of a Carbon 14+ to decay through doing experiments. This is known as its "half life". \n\nPlants and animal produce small quanitities of Carbon 14+. Once they die, the Carbon 14+ in their bodies is no longer replenished and begins to decay. By analysing the amount of Carbon 14+ left in a body, you can tell how long ago it died to within a few thousand years. \n\nFor example if the half life of carbon 14+ was 10,000 years (I don't know the exact value), and a fossil had one quarter of the Carbon 14+ of a living body, you know it died roughly 20,000 years ago.\n\nThe bible's great mate, but it's no substitute for science.
908871
Carbon has made forms and can be used for several things.\n\nDiamond - Gemstone quality are cut and placed in jewelery, Industrial diamonds are used in tools like diamond tipped saws and drill bits designed to cut into heavy materials like stone or metal.\n\nWater Filters - Carbon can combine with many other elements which is why it is used to remove a number of impurities from drinking water and small aquariums.\n\nElectronics - Carbon is commonly used in electronic components (such as resistors) found in TVs, Radios, Computers, Playstations, etc.\n\nFeul & Energy - In the form of coal it is widely used in the boliers of electrical power plants to generate energy. In developing countries it is used as a more efficient means over wood for heating the home and cooking. In China the coal that is mined is pressed into round stackable bricks that are alloted to the people without electricity every month so they can cook food and heat their homes.\n\nGraphite - The "Pencil Lead" for wooden and mechanical pencils. A dry lubricant commonly used on small mechanical devices like locks and hobby motors of miniature vehicles.\n\nDrinks - By mixing with oxygen in the form of Carbon Dioxide it allows for the bubbles in soda.\n\nFood - In the form of baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) it creates gas bubble that make cookies and cakes light and airy.\n\nSteel - The strong and common alloy is made by adding carbon to iron.\n\nSimple Calories - Carbon in one of the key elements in the sugars and starches that make up the carbohydrades in food. The subtances are typically plant-based in origin and are the easiest to breakdown into energy.\n\nNano Tubes - An experimental "artificial muscle" consisting of strong microscopic carbon structures that can flex and contract with electrical current.\n\nAerospace Engineering - New aircraft and spacecraft hulls are made of overlapping layers of woven carbon fiber material and heated resins. The combined layers are stronger and lighter than the traditional aluminum panals that make up older aircraft and space craft skins.
892646
first of all carbon is not an organic compound it is an element. and different compounds made from carbon are included in class of organic compounds.\n\ncarbon has got atomic number 6. so its electronic configuration will be 1s2,2s2,2p2. so it contains 4 electrons in its outermost orbit, we know that there should be 8 electrons to complete the octet and make the element stable, so carbon can either gain 4 electrons or lose 4 electrons to become stable, but both requires very high amount of energy.\n\nso it goes for sharing of electrons. it has the special property of catenation, ie carbon-carbon long chain formation. no other element has such property, so carbon itself has forms such high number of compounds which not even formed by rest all elements together. so it has been given special branch of chemistry called organic chemistry while rest all elements are included in inorganic chemistry. so its versatile
63908
Solid Phase,Silicon makes up 25.7% of the earth's crust and is the second most abundant element on Earth, after oxygen. Elemental silicon is not found in nature. It occurs most often as oxides and as silicates. Sand, amethyst, agate, quartz, rock crystal, flint, jasper, and opal are some of the forms in which the oxide appears. Granite, asbestos, feldspar, clay, hornblende, and mica are a few of the many silicate minerals.\n\nhttp://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/14.html