Which term describes carbon-containing compounds?

Which term describes carbon-containing compounds?

• A. Organic Compound
• B. Hydrocarbon
• C. Structural Formula
• D. Isomer

Answer: (A)

Carbon-containing compounds are described by the term organic compounds. This broad category includes any chemical that has carbon–often bonded to hydrogen and other elements. Hydrocarbons are a subset of organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen, so not all carbon-containing substances are hydrocarbons (examples like ethanol or glucose also include oxygen and other elements). A structural formula is simply a way to show how the atoms are connected in a molecule, not a definition of what the molecule is. An isomer refers to molecules that have the same formula but different arrangements of atoms. So, for describing carbon-containing substances in general, the correct term is organic compound.

Carbon-containing compounds are described by the term organic compounds. This broad category includes any chemical that has carbon–often bonded to hydrogen and other elements. Hydrocarbons are a subset of organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen, so not all carbon-containing substances are hydrocarbons (examples like ethanol or glucose also include oxygen and other elements). A structural formula is simply a way to show how the atoms are connected in a molecule, not a definition of what the molecule is. An isomer refers to molecules that have the same formula but different arrangements of atoms. So, for describing carbon-containing substances in general, the correct term is organic compound.