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Catenation

Catenation is the ability of some elements to form chains of identical atoms. Carbon is the premier element in this respect, but some other elements (for instance, sulfur, silicon, and germanium) possess the property to a lower degree.

Carbon can form covalent bonds with two other carbon atoms and thus can form chains and rings. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons are examples of catenation. The propensity for catenation is high in carbon because the bond energy of the carbon-carbon bond is high in comparision to the energy of bonds of carbon with other elements.

Other elements, including some Chalcogens such as Sulfur and Oxygen, can also form chain structures. In the case of oxygen, only two-atom chain can be formed.Peroxide is an example. However, for sulfur, 8-atom (or even more than cation is fairly common.

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