NASA has been scanning neighboring planets for signs of life, but there is always the possibility that life on other planets could be based on an element other than carbon. Based on your understanding of carbon's properties, what qualities should NASA be looking for in other elements that might replace carbon on an alien planet?

Question

Chemistry

Gisselle Monroe

18 October, 12:50

NASA has been scanning neighboring planets for signs of life, but there is always the possibility that life on other planets could be based on an element other than carbon. Based on your understanding of carbon's properties, what qualities should NASA be looking for in other elements that might replace carbon on an alien planet?

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Answers (1)

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Nobel · Answer 1

Silicon

Explanation:

One of the most similar elements to carbon on periodic table is silicon. Several compounds formed between carbon or silicon and other elements are identical.

Carbon is an element found in life forms as a building block while silicon is a building block of machine components such as semiconductors

Silicon is an element that can sustain bonds, similar to carbon bonds and it is situated directly under carbon on the periodic table