-Refer to the figure above (first three rows of the periodic table) . If life arose on a planet where carbon is absent, which element might fill the role of carbon?

Question

-Refer to the figure above (first three rows of the periodic table). If life arose on a planet where carbon is absent, which element might fill the role of carbon?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Silicon is the most likely candidate to fill the role of carbon in an alternative biochemistry because it is directly below carbon in the periodic table, meaning it shares similar chemical properties, such as the ability to form four bonds, which is crucial for the complex chemistry of life.

-Refer to the Figure Above (First Three Rows of the Periodic