In these chemical compounds, C is for carbon, O is for oxygen, and N is for nitrogen. Which chemical compound is most likely inorganic?
[tex]$H _2 O$[/tex]
[tex]$CH _3 NH _2$[/tex]
[tex]$C _6 H _{12} O _6$[/tex]
[tex]$CH _4$[/tex]
Answer (2)
Identify that inorganic compounds generally lack carbon-hydrogen bonds.
Examine each compound: H 2 O , C H 3 N H 2 , C 6 H 12 O 6 , and C H 4 .
Determine that H 2 O is the only compound without carbon.
Conclude that H 2 O is the most likely inorganic compound: H 2 O .
Explanation
Understanding Inorganic and Organic Compounds We are asked to identify the most likely inorganic compound from a list of chemical compounds. Inorganic compounds generally do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds. Organic compounds generally contain carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Examining the Chemical Formulas Let's examine each chemical formula:
H 2 O : Water. This compound does not contain carbon. C H 3 N H 2 : Methylamine. This compound contains carbon and hydrogen. C 6 H 12 O 6 : Glucose. This compound contains carbon and hydrogen. C H 4 : Methane. This compound contains carbon and hydrogen.
Identifying the Inorganic Compound Since inorganic compounds generally do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, the most likely inorganic compound from the list is H 2 O because it does not contain carbon.
Examples
Understanding the difference between organic and inorganic compounds is crucial in many real-world applications. For example, in environmental science, knowing whether a pollutant is organic or inorganic helps determine how it will degrade and affect the environment. In medicine, understanding the composition of drugs (organic) versus minerals (inorganic) is essential for treatment. Even in cooking, recognizing the organic nature of sugars and fats versus the inorganic nature of salt and water helps us understand their roles in recipes and nutrition.
The most likely inorganic compound from the provided options is H 2 O , as it does not contain carbon. Other compounds include carbon and hydrogen, classifying them as organic. Therefore, H 2 O stands out as the only inorganic compound.
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