Carbon is in group 4, so its atoms have 4 electrons in the outer shell. This means they can form covalent bonds. Carbon atoms join with other carbon atoms to form chains and rings.
Carbon can also form covalent bonds with other elements such as hydrogen oxygen and others , producing many different compounds.
Allotropes are different forms of an element in the same state, but with different atomic arrangements. For example diamonds and graphite are two allotropes of carbon.
