The chemical basis for all living organisms is carbon. Carbon is a unique element that can form stable bonds with many other elements, including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, which are essential for life. It serves as the backbone for various biomolecules: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). This versatility allows for the complexity and diversity of biological structures and functions. The ability of carbon to form long chains and rings leads to the formation of complex molecules necessary for life processes, making it the cornerstone of organic chemistry.