Building Blocks of Life Quiz

1. In these chemical compounds, C is for carbon, O is for oxygen, N is for nitrogen, H is for hydrogen, and K is for potassium.

Which chemical compound is organic?

A. [tex] H_2O [/tex]
B. [tex] C_{12}H_{22}O_{11} [/tex]
C. [tex] KNO_3 [/tex]
D. [tex] KOH [/tex]



Answer :

To determine which chemical compound is organic, we need to understand the definition of organic compounds. Organic compounds are characterized primarily by the presence of carbon atoms (C) bonded to hydrogen atoms (H). Some organic compounds additionally contain elements like oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and others, but the critical factor is the presence of carbon.

Let’s examine the provided chemical compounds one by one:

1. [tex]\( H_2 O \)[/tex] (Water):
- Elements present: Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O).
- Lacks Carbon (C), thus it is not an organic compound.

2. [tex]\( C_{12}H_{22}O_{11} \)[/tex] (Sucrose, a type of sugar):
- Elements present: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O).
- Contains Carbon (C), making it an organic compound.

3. [tex]\( KNO_3 \)[/tex] (Potassium Nitrate):
- Elements present: Potassium (K), Nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O).
- Lacks Carbon (C), thus it is not an organic compound.

4. [tex]\( KOH \)[/tex] (Potassium Hydroxide):
- Elements present: Potassium (K), Oxygen (O), Hydrogen (H).
- Lacks Carbon (C), thus it is not an organic compound.

Given these evaluations, the only compound that fits the criteria of being an organic compound due to its inclusion of carbon is [tex]\( C_{12}H_{22}O_{11} \)[/tex].

Therefore, the organic compound among the given options is:

[tex]$ \boxed{C_{12}H_{22}O_{11}} $[/tex]