UPSC 2013 CDS 2 GK Paper

Out of all the elements which exist in the periodic table, theelement which forms the highest number of compounds is carbon. Acarbon atom with 4 valence electrons forms four covalent bondsby sharing valence electrons with other atoms (tetravalency); and byvirtue of being in the 1st row of the periodic table is most suited to form the highest number of compounds.