Compounds That Contain Carbon as the Primary Structural Atom Are

Question

Compounds that contain carbon as the primary structural atom are called ________ molecules.
A) carbonic
B) organic
C) inorganic
D) catabolic
E) anabolic

Accepted Answer

The prefix "org-" in organic means "related to living organisms," and in chemistry, organic molecules are defined as compounds that contain carbon as the primary structural atom. Hence, option B is the correct answer. Choice A, carbonic, refers to a specific compound, carbonic acid, and not to a class of compounds. Choice C, inorganic, refers to compounds that do not contain carbon as the primary structural atom. Finally, choices D and E, catabolic and anabolic, respectively, refer to metabolic processes rather than classes of compounds.