ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Carbon compounds

Carbon compounds are like a big toy box filled with different toys that all have one thing in common - they're made out of carbon. Carbon is a special type of atom that is really good at making bonds with other atoms, kind of like how we like to hold hands with our friends.

Now, these toys in the toy box come in all different shapes and sizes, just like how there are different types of atoms that can bond with carbon. Some of the toys are simple, like blocks or balls, while others are more complicated, like puzzles or robots. In the same way, some carbon compounds are simple, like methane or carbon dioxide, while others are more complicated, like proteins or nucleic acids.

One thing that makes carbon compounds really interesting is that they can form long chains, kind of like how we can make a really long line of friends holding hands. These chains can be straight or they can have lots of branches and twists and turns, just like how we can make lots of different shapes with our friends.

Carbon compounds are all around us, in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and even the clothes we wear. And because carbon is so good at bonding with other atoms, scientists can use it to create new compounds that can do all sorts of cool things. Think of it like making new toys out of the pieces in the toy box - you can create something totally new and exciting!