Why are we called carbon based life forms?
Carbon atoms form the core structure of the molecules used in life. Other atoms like oxygen and hydrogen usually “brach off” the Carbon centered structure. When Scientists say that there might be forms of life that aren’t carbon based that mean that they will utilize an entirely different system of molecules. One of the most popular ideas is Silicon based life where all the molecules will be formed off silicon structures. The problem is that these molecules dissolve in many common substances on earth. Silicon based life might flourish in a sulfuric-acid-rich environment (this molecule being analogous to water) that is thousands of degrees so that silicon oxide, that would be analogous to carbon dioxide, would not be solid. Quite different than life we know here, but these environments exist on other planets.
