system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What is unique about carbon that makes it ideal for organic chemistry?

I understand that it bonds well molecularly with many other elements. What other elements could be the basis for advanced life (I've heard silicon might be suitable)? What qualities in an element might make it reasonably suitable?

*EDIT*: Wow, thanks for the extraordinary response! I posted this just before going to sleep last night, so I didn't get a chance to respond, but your answers were fascinating! Much appreciated!
gpt
It easily makes 4 strong bonds, either with more carbon atoms or with other non-metals like oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. This allows long chains of carbon atoms with other atoms hanging off the side, leading to a bewildering range of possible molecules of different shapes, sizes, and chemical properties.

Other non-metals either don't make enough bonds (oxygen makes 2, nitrogen 3, hydrogen 1), or the bonds aren't strong enough to form long chains that are reasonably stable (silicon, phosphorus, etc.). Metals usually don't make covalent bonds at all, so they can't form chains (inter-metallic bonds are far too weak).