Describe the properties of the carbon atom that make the diversity of carbon compounds possible.

The properties of the carbon atom that make the diversity of carbon compounds possible are the hibridizations of the orbitals because they make it possible to form  four equal covalent bonds with itself or other atoms, or to form double or triple bonds.

So the carbon can form an infinite variety of compounds becasue carbon can always bond to other carbon atom. So you can have a simple molecule as CH4 (metane) where the atom of carbon is attached to four atoms of hydrogen. When the atom of carbon bonds to an atom that can in turn bond to other atoms is when the ability to form millions of compounds arise.

Ions gain or lose electrons