An organic compound is a compound that contains what element?

1 Answer
Jan 31, 2017

Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen (which may be replaced by other atoms).

Explanation:

Most people say that organic compounds are those that contain carbon, but that is not entirely correct. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are not organic, even though they contain carbon.

Examples of organic compounds are carbohydrates , which contain carbon, hydrogen , and oxygen; proteins , which contain carbon, hydrogen , oxygen, and nitrogen; lipids , which contain carbon, hydrogen , and oxygen; nucleic acids , which contain carbon, hydrogen , oxygen, and phosphorus; and hydrocarbons , which contain carbon, and hydrogen , but which can substitute other elements and functional groups.