The ability of carbon to form long chains is referred to as
Answer Details
The ability of carbon to form long chains is referred to as catenation. Catenation is the property of an element to form a long chain or branch of atoms by bonding covalently with other atoms of the same element. Carbon is known for its strong catenation property due to its tetravalency (ability to form four covalent bonds) and small atomic size. This property of carbon allows it to form a variety of organic compounds, including hydrocarbons and polymers, which are the building blocks of life. Therefore, the correct answer is "catenation."