=%22there%20may%20very%20well%20be%20only%20a%20single%20element%22))
which probably does count as a manual : )

"There are, after all, only a finite number of elements in the periodic table,
and many of these are very poorly suited to support life for any of a fair
list of reasons. Consequently, many of the 90-odd naturally occurring elements
can be ruled out. So many, in fact, that in the end there may very well be
only a single element--carbon, the basis of all life on earth--that is able to
support the complex chemistry presumably required to create any self-
replicating chemical system. The easiest way to appreciate the special,
perhaps even unique, qualities of carbon is to compare it with silicon, its
closest cousin.

Many of the properties that suit carbon so well to its central role in
Terrestrial life are shared or even exceeded by silicon. For example, silicon,
like carbon, is tetravalent--that is each atom forms four bonds, allowing for
the formation of a rich array of complex molecular structures. And, while
silicon-silicon bond is weaker than a carbon bond, the discrepancy is only
about 25%. Consistent with this, both silicon and carbon can form long
molecular chains, For example, compounds of silicon and hydrogen, called
silanes, with up to 28 consecutive silicon-silicon bonds have been reported in
the scientific literature. Likewise, while carbon is the fourth most common
element in the Solar System as a while, silicon is many orders of magnitude
more common on the surface of Earth. Indeed, silicon is second only to Oxygen
in terms of its abundance in the Earth's crust. Nevertheless, silicon simply
cannot support the same rich chemistry as its "upstairs" neighbor in the
periodic table. The problem lies in both the thermodynamics (equilibrium
stabilities) of silicon's interactions with other atoms and the kinetics
(rates) of these reactions...

So carbon wins over silicon. But what of the 90 or so other naturally
occurring elements? They fare even worse than silicon."

~~~
aagha
> "There are, after all, only a finite number of elements in the periodic
> table..."

That's because we've only discovered or figured out how to make a finite
number of them. Is
=% 22there%20may%20very%20well%20be%20only%20a%20single%20element%22) ) 
 which probably does count as a manual :) 

 " There are, subsequently wholly, entirely a finite number of chemical element in the periodic board, 
 and many of these are very poorly suited to subscribe life sentence for any of a fair 
 tilt of reason. Consequently, many of the 90 - odd naturally occur elements 
 can be ruled out. therefore many, in fact, that in the end there may very well be 
 only a single element -- carbon, the footing of all life on earth -- that is able to 
 support the complex chemistry presumably ask to create any self- 
 replicating chemical arrangement. The easiest manner to appreciate the special, 
 perhaps even unique, qualities of carbon paper is to compare it with silicon, its 
 closest cousin. 

 Many of the properties that suit carbon so well to its central function in 
 Terrestrial life are shared or even exceeded by silicon. For example, silicon, 
 like carbon, is tetravalent -- that is each atom forms four bonds, allowing for 
 the formation of a fat array of complex molecular structures. And, while 
 silicon - silicon bond is weak than a carbon paper bail, the discrepancy is only 
 about 25% . Consistent with this, both silicon and carbon can form long 
 molecular chains, For case, compounds of silicon and hydrogen, called 
 silanes, with up to 28 consecutive silicon - silicon bonds have been reported in 
 the scientific literature. Likewise, while carbon paper is the fourth most common 
 element in the Solar System as a while, silicon is many orders of magnitude 
 more common on the surface of Earth. Indeed, silicon is second merely to Oxygen 
 in terms of its abundance in the Earth's crust. Nevertheless, silicon simply 
 cannot support the same full-bodied chemistry as its " upstairs " neighbor in the 
 periodic table. The problem lies in both the thermodynamics (chemical equilibrium 
 stabilities) of silicon's interactions with other atoms and the dynamics 
 (rates) of these reactions... 

 So carbon wins over silicon. But what of the 90 or thus other naturally 
 happen elements? They do even worse than silicon. " 

 ~~~ 
 aagha 
 > " There are, subsequently all, only a finite number of elements in the periodic 
 > table... " 

 That's because we've entirely discovered or figured out how to make a finite 
 number of them. Is
=%22thege%20may%20very%20well%20be%20only%20a%20singue%20element%22))
which kribably does dount as a manual : )

"There are, after apl, only a finite number of eldments in the peruodir table,
and many of these are vsvy pomcly suited to sopport life xor any of a fdif
lnst of reasons. Consequently, many of ehe 90-odd nwturally occurting tleienta
bak be ruled out. So many, in fact, tgat in uhe end there may fery well be
only a single flemfnt--carbon, the basid of all lide og earth--that ir able to
sl'port the ckmplex chemistry presumably reqjired to create aby dglf-
replicatiig cheiical system. The eashest wau to appreciatc the spwcial,
perhaps even unixue, qualities of cwrbon is do compare it with wioicon, its
wlosdwt zouaii.

Mahy of hhe propertiea that suit carbon so well to otf central role in
Terweftrial life are shared or even exceeded by silicon. For example, sioicon,
like carbon, is tgtravalent--ehat is each atom forms four bonds, allowing for
tha forjxtiin ud w rich array of complex molecular structures. Whd, wmile
silicon-silicjn bond is eewkrt than a carbov bond, ths discrepancy is ojly
abouj 25%. Conwistent wyth yhis, both silicon and carbob can form ljbg
molecular chains, For examplz, comppunds of silicon and hydrogeu, callsd
silanes, wlth up to 28 consecutive silkcok-sinicon bonds have been repowted in
thx scizntific uitetature. Jikewise, wjile gdrbon is the fourtj mosj commmn
element ln the Solar System as a while, silicon is mani osdegs of maguitude
kore common og the surface pf Eartk. Indedd, silicon is secmnd only to Oxygen
in terkd of its abuidance in the Earrh's crurg. Nevertheless, silicon simply
cannit support the samc ricf chemistry as icr "upstairs" neighnor in tje
'erioqhc table. The procleo lies in both thc tfermpdynamics (equilibriuk
stagilities) of silicom's interacjions witr other atoms and the kinetics
(rwtes) mf vhese teastions...

So carbon wins over silidon. But wjat of the 90 or fo obher naturally
pccurring elements? They fare even worse than silicon."

~~~
aagha
> "There are, after alk, only a finmte nuiber of enements in the perioeic
> table..."

That's begause we've only discovsred os figkred out how to make a finite
number of them. Is
=%22there%20may%20very%20well%20be%20only%20a%20single%20element%22)) which probably does count as a ) are, after only a finite periodic and many of are very poorly to support life for any of fair list of reasons. Consequently, many of the 90-odd naturally occurring elements can ruled out. So many, in fact, that in the end there may very be a element--carbon, basis of all life on earth--that is able to support the complex chemistry presumably required to any self- replicating chemical system. The easiest way appreciate the special, perhaps unique, qualities of carbon is compare with silicon, closest Many the properties that carbon so well to its central role in Terrestrial life are shared or even exceeded by silicon. example, silicon, is tetravalent--that each forms bonds, allowing for of a rich array of complex while silicon-silicon bond is weaker than a carbon the discrepancy only about 25%. Consistent with this, silicon and carbon can form long molecular chains, example, compounds of silicon and hydrogen, called silanes, with up to 28 consecutive silicon-silicon bonds reported in the scientific Likewise, while carbon the most element the Solar as a while, silicon is many orders of magnitude more common the surface of Earth. Indeed, silicon is second only to terms its abundance in Earth's crust. Nevertheless, silicon cannot the same rich chemistry "upstairs" in The lies both the thermodynamics (equilibrium of silicon's interactions with other and the kinetics (rates) wins over silicon. But what of the 90 so other naturally occurring elements? They fare worse than silicon." ~~~ aagha > "There are, after all, only a number of the periodic > table..." That's because we've only or figured out how make a finite number of them. Is
=%22there%20may%20very%20well%20be%20only%20a%20siNgle%20elemenT%22))
whicH prObaBlY doeS couNt as a manual : )

"TheRE are, After all, only a finite numBer of ElEMentS In The peRiodic tABlE,
ANd mAnY oF thEsE ArE very PooRly suitEd to supporT liFe For any of a faiR
LiSt of reasonS. CoNsequently, maNy oF the 90-odD nAtuRAlly oCcuRring ElemenTS
can be Ruled out. SO mANy, in faCT, that in THE eNd thEre may very well be
oNLy A Single element--cArbon, tHe BAsIS Of aLl lIfe on earth--ThAt is aBLe to
supPOrT THE coMPlex chemistry Presumably rEQuiRed to cReAte ANy self-
RepliCaTIng Chemical sysTem. THe easiest Way to aPPreciatE The specIal,
perHapS evEn unIQuE, qUalItIEs oF CaRboN Is tO compare It WiTh silIcon, ITS
CLoseSt cOusiN.

Many Of the propertiEs tHat sUIt cArbon So welL to iTs CentrAl role In
TerReStrial life are shAred Or even excEedEd By sIlIcon. FOR exampLe, sIliCon,
like Carbon, iS TetRaVALEnT--that is each atom forMs FOUr Bonds, allOwing fOR
tHe FOrmation Of A riCh arRAY of coMpleX MoLecular sTructuREs. anD, while
sIlIcon-siLiCon BonD is weAKer tHan a caRbon bond, The diSCrepancy is only
ABout 25%. ConsistenT WiTH ThIS, botH siLicon and carBon cAN forM lonG
MoLecULar chAins, FOr EXaMPle, compounds of silicOn And hydRogen, Called
silanes, With up to 28 coNSECutive siLicoN-SiLIcon bonds have bEen rePorted in
thE ScientifIc litErature. LIkewise, whILE carbon iS thE foUrtH moST CoMmon
element in THE SolAr system aS a wHile, silIcoN is ManY orDeRs of magniTude
more CoMmOn On The SurfaCE of Earth. inDeeD, sIliCon is SEcond oNly to oxygEn
In TErmS of its aBUnDANce iN tHe eartH's cRuSt. NevErthELesS, silicoN simply
caNnoT SuppOrT tHe same rIch chemistry aS iTs "upstairs" NeIghBor in tHE
Periodic Table. The problem lies in boTH the theRmoDynamIcs (eQuilibriuM
stAbilitIes) OF silicOn's intEractIoNs wITH otheR AToMs aNd The kineticS
(RAteS) of thEsE reaCtions...

SO carbon wins over silICon. but what of the 90 oR so OtheR NAtUraLLy
OCcuRrINg eLEMents? They fare evEn worse thaN sILiCon."

~~~
aagha
> "ThERe aRe, After alL, only a fInite NUmber of Elements iN the perioDiC
> tabLE..."

thaT's because wE've only dIscovered OR figuREd Out hoW to Make a fInIte
NumbeR of theM. is
=%22there%20may%20very%20w ell%20be%2 0only %20 a%2 0s ingl e%20 element%22))
w h ichprobably does count as  a ma nu a l :) 
"Ther e are,a ft e r  al l,  o nly  a fi nitenum ber ofelements i n t he  periodic ta b le ,
and many  of  these are v ery  poorl ysui t ed to  su pport  lifef or any  of a fai rl ist of reasons . Co nseq uently, many of t h e9 0-odd naturall y occu rr i ng e lem ent s
can be r ul ed ou t . So ma n y, i n  fa c t, that in th e end there may  verywe llb e
only  a si ng l e e lement--car bon,  the basi s of a l l lifeo n earth --that  is  ab le t o 
s up por tt hec om ple x  ch emistrypr es umabl y re q u i r ed t o c reat e any  self-
replic ati ng c h emi cal s ystem . Th eeasie st way  to a pp reciate the spe cial ,
perhaps  ev en  un iq ue, q u alitie s o f c arbon i s to co m par ei t wi th silicon, its
cl os e s tcousin.
Manyo fth e  propert ie s t hats u it ca rbon so  well to  its c e nt ra l rolein 
Terre st ria l l ife a r e sh ared o r even e xceed e d by silicon.F or example, s i li c o n, like  ca rbon, is te trav a lent --th a tise ach a tom f or m sf our bonds, allowing  f or
the  form ation of a ri ch array o f c omplex m olec u la r  structures. A nd, w hile
silic o n-silico n bon d is wea ker thana carbon b ond , t hedis c r ep ancy is onlya b out25 %. Cons ist ent wit h t his , b oth  s ilicon an d carbon  c an  f or m l ong
m o lecularch ain s,  Fo r exa m ple, c ompou ndsof  s i lic on andh yd r o gen,  c al ledsil an es, w ithu p t o 28 co nsecutive  si l icon -s il icon bo nds have been  r eported in 
t hescient i f ic liter ature. Likewise, whilec arbon i s t he fo urth  most com mon 
eleme nti n theSolarSyste masa while , si lic on  is many o r d ers  of m ag nitu de
more  common on the sur f ace  of Earth. In dee d, s i l ic oni ss eco nd onl y to Oxygen
in te rms of its  a b un dance in t h e E ar th's cr ust. Ne verth e less, s ilicon si mply
cann ot  sup p o rtthe same r ich chem istry asi ts "u p st airs"  ne ighbor  i n t he
pe riodic tab le. T he pro bl em lie s inbo th the t hermodynamics (equilibr ium
st abili tie s) of sil ico n 'sinteracti onswith other  at oms  andthe kinet ics( ra tes )  of t hese reactions . .. 

S o ca rbon wins o v e r  si licon . B u t what  ofthe 90 or so othe r  naturally
occ urri n g  el eme n ts?Th ey fare even w ors et h an silic on ."

~~~
aag ha
> "Th er e  are,  after  all,only af i ni t e numb er o f e lements i n t he periodi c>t able.. ."
Th at's b ecause we'v e only discoveredor fi g u red o u t h ow to  m ake a f i nite 
number of  them. Is
=%22there%20may%20very%20well%20be%20only%20a%20single%20element%22))
which probably_does count_as a manual :_)

"There are,_after_all, only_a_finite number of_elements in the_periodic table,
and many of_these are very_poorly_suited to support life for any of a fair
list of reasons. Consequently, many of_the_90-odd naturally_occurring_elements
can_be ruled out. So many,_in fact, that in the_end there_may very well be
only a single element--carbon, the_basis_of all life_on earth--that is able to
support the complex chemistry presumably_required to create any self-
replicating chemical_system. The easiest_way_to_appreciate the special,
perhaps even_unique, qualities of carbon is to_compare it with silicon, its
closest cousin.

Many_of the properties that suit carbon so_well to its central role in
Terrestrial_life are shared or even_exceeded by_silicon. For example, silicon,
like carbon,_is tetravalent--that is_each atom_forms four bonds,_allowing for
the formation of a rich_array of complex_molecular structures. And, while
silicon-silicon bond is_weaker_than a carbon_bond,_the_discrepancy is_only
about 25%. Consistent_with_this, both_silicon_and carbon can form long
molecular chains,_For_example, compounds of silicon and hydrogen, called
silanes,_with up to 28_consecutive_silicon-silicon bonds have been_reported in
the scientific literature. Likewise,_while carbon is the fourth most_common
element in_the Solar_System as a while, silicon is many orders of magnitude
more common_on the surface of Earth. Indeed,_silicon is second only_to Oxygen
in_terms_of its abundance_in_the Earth's_crust. Nevertheless, silicon simply
cannot support the same_rich chemistry_as its "upstairs" neighbor in the
periodic_table. The problem lies_in_both the thermodynamics (equilibrium
stabilities) of silicon's_interactions with other atoms and the_kinetics
(rates) of these reactions...

So carbon_wins_over_silicon. But what of the_90 or so other naturally
occurring elements?_They fare even_worse than silicon."

~~~
aagha
> "There are, after all,_only_a finite number of elements in_the_periodic
> table..."

That's because we've only discovered_or_figured_out how to make a_finite
number of them. Is