Chemical diversity and magnitude of organic compounds:
Carbon has four bonding electrons in its velence shell. Carbon therefore forms four bonds with other atom.
catenation:
The chemical diversity of organic compounds arises from carbon's ability to bond to eavh other to form long chains, branched chains and rings. This self-linking ability of carbon is called catenation.
Isomerism:
No other element can complete with carbon in this regard. Silicon and few other element can from chains, but only short one. Carbon chains may contain thousand of carbon atoms. For these reasons carbon forms almost infinite number of molecules of various sizes, shapes and structure. Another reason for large number of organic compounds is the phenomenon of isomerism.
Isomers:
The compounds that have same molecular formula but different arrangement of atom in their molecules are called isomers. This phenomenon is called isomerism.
Example
CH3-----CH2-----CH2-----CH3
n - Butane
CH3-----CH-----CH3
↓↓↓
CH3
Iso- Butane