Final answer:
Carbon is important to life due to its ability to form stable bonds and create a wide variety of complex molecules. Silicon is not as good as carbon because it forms weaker bonds and has limited versatility in creating organic compounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon is important to life because it is the central element in organic compounds, which make up the cells and structures of organisms and carry out life processes. Carbon is able to form stable bonds with many elements, including itself, allowing it to form a wide variety of complex molecules. This property allows carbon to create nearly 10 million carbon-based compounds found in living things.On the other hand, silicon is not as good as carbon for supporting life because it forms weaker bonds and is less versatile in forming complex molecules. While silicon shares some chemical similarities with carbon, it does not have the same ability to create the wide variety of organic compounds necessary for the complexity of life.