Answered

Which of the following is an organic molecule?

A. [tex] H_2O [/tex]

B. [tex] NaCl [/tex]

C. [tex] C_6H_{12}O_6 [/tex]

D. [tex] CaCO_3 [/tex]



Answer :

An organic molecule is characterized by containing carbon (C) atoms typically in combination with hydrogen (H) atoms, and often other elements like oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and phosphorus (P).

Let’s examine each option to determine which one is an organic molecule:

1. O (Oxygen):
- This is a single element, not a molecule.
- It does not contain both carbon and hydrogen.
- Therefore, it is not an organic molecule.

2. H2O (Water):
- This molecule contains hydrogen and oxygen.
- It does not contain carbon.
- Thus, it does not meet the criteria to be considered an organic molecule.

3. NaCl (Sodium Chloride):
- This is a salt composed of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl).
- It does not contain carbon or hydrogen.
- Therefore, it is not an organic molecule.

4. C6H12O6 (Glucose):
- This molecule contains carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).
- It is a carbohydrate, which is a type of organic molecule.
- Therefore, it is indeed an organic molecule.

5. CaCO3 (Calcium Carbonate):
- This molecule contains calcium (Ca), carbon (C), and oxygen (O).
- While it contains carbon, it is typically classified as an inorganic compound.
- Therefore, it is not an organic molecule.

Upon examining each option, the molecule that meets the criteria of containing carbon and hydrogen and thus being an organic molecule is C6H12O6 (Glucose).

So, the correct answer is:

C6H12O6 (Glucose)