( ( ( The ( carbon atoms ) ) ( in ( these ( ( chains and ) rings ) ) ) ) ( ( ( can then ) ( ( ( form bonds ) ( with ( ( other elements ) ( in ( many ways ) ) ) ) ) ( to ( produce ( various ( functional groups ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NN carbon) (NNS atoms)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT these) (NNS chains) (CC and) (NNS rings)))) (VP (MD can) (RB then) (VP (VB form) (NP (NNS bonds)) (PP (IN with) (NP (NP (JJ other) (NNS elements)) (PP (IN in) (NP (JJ many) (NNS ways))))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB produce) (NP (JJ various) (JJ functional) (NNS groups))))))) (. .)))
The carbon atoms in these chains and rings can then form bonds with other elements in many ways to produce various functional groups.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNP Carbon)) (PRN (-LRB- -LRB-) (X (SYM c)) (-RRB- -RRB-))) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (JJ essential) (PP (TO to) (S (VP (VBG living) (NP (NNS organisms)) (PP (IN because) (NP (NP (NN carbon) (NNS bonds)) (PP (IN in) (NP (JJ many) (NNS ways))))) (PP (IN with) (NP (PRP itself))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB form) (NP (NNS chains)))))))))) (. .)))
Carbon (c) is essential to living organisms because carbon bonds in many ways with itself to form chains.