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Why is carbon tetravalent

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Carbon is tetravalent because it has four valence electrons in its outermost shell. These valence electrons are able to form covalent bonds with other atoms, allowing carbon to form a wide variety of compounds. The four valence electrons allow carbon to form stable bonds with other atoms, which is why carbon is the basis of organic chemistry and is found in a wide variety of important molecules such as DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates.
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