Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #102 Organic Compound Definition

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #102

All organic compounds contain which of the following atoms?


A. Carbon and hydrogen
B. Carbon and nitrogen
C. Nitrogen and phosphorus
D. Carbon and oxygen

Good luck!


































.

 

[beaslbob]

a
Also called hydrocarbons?

 

[chemisfun11]

A is correct. Hydrocarbons are a specific homologous series of organic compounds. Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes are often introduced in high school chemistry.

 

[redfishbluefish]

You almost tricked me because of the title, where I though you were going for the definition of organic compounds....were the answer would be A, B and D.....carbon containing compounds. However, when reading the actual question of the post, I see ALL. All organic compounds have carbon and hydrogen, at a minimum.

 

[The Kahnasaur]

The answer you're looking for is A, however there are some organic compounds that do not contain hydrogen. Carbon tetrachloride is just 1 example.

 

[Steven@]

WAGS is A

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

And the answer is...A. Carbon and hydrogen

Most chemists define organic compounds as those that contain carbon and hydrogen. Some definitions require there be an actual C-H bond, since things like bicarbonate (HCO3-) are generally considered inorganic despite having a carbon and hydrogen atom.

Happy Reefing.

 

[beaslbob]

dern
you sure?
You mean I was correct?
dern

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I guess that happens sometimes.

But you can rest comfortably that you may not have been entirely correct. Hydrocarbons contain carbon and hydrogen (and usually little or nothing else) and are organic, but many organics are not hydrocarbons. Ethanol, CH3OH, wouldn't be called a hydrocarbon, but is organic.

A Brute can is largely organic and largely a hydrocarbon, FWIW.

 

[beaslbob]

learning some more stuff.
Isn't it hydrocarbons we try to limit in auto exhaust?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That's one thing we limit, yes. Basically unburned gas.

Carbon monoxide is another, and nitrogen oxides is another thing we try to limit.

All of these get reduced in catalytic converters.