Which statement defines inorganic compounds?

Which statement defines inorganic compounds?

• A. A compound that contains carbon and hydrogen only.
• B. A compound that does not contain carbon or contains carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen.
• C. A compound that contains carbon bound to hydrogen.
• D. Organic compounds containing carbon.

Answer: (B)

Inorganic compounds are defined by either having no carbon at all or having carbon that is not bonded to hydrogen. That means any molecule where carbon sits next to elements other than hydrogen (like oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, metals, etc.) fits the inorganic category. So the statement that defines inorganic compounds matches this idea: a compound that does not contain carbon or contains carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen. This captures both those without carbon and those with carbon in bonds to non-hydrogen partners. Why the other descriptions aren’t the right fit: a molecule with carbon and hydrogen bonds is typically considered organic, because carbon-hydrogen bonds are the hallmark of many organic compounds. A description that specifies carbon bound to hydrogen again centers on C–H bonds, placing it in the organic realm. A phrase like “organic compounds containing carbon” describes organic chemistry in general, not inorganic chemistry, so it doesn’t define inorganic compounds.

Inorganic compounds are defined by either having no carbon at all or having carbon that is not bonded to hydrogen. That means any molecule where carbon sits next to elements other than hydrogen (like oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, metals, etc.) fits the inorganic category.

So the statement that defines inorganic compounds matches this idea: a compound that does not contain carbon or contains carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen. This captures both those without carbon and those with carbon in bonds to non-hydrogen partners.

Why the other descriptions aren’t the right fit: a molecule with carbon and hydrogen bonds is typically considered organic, because carbon-hydrogen bonds are the hallmark of many organic compounds. A description that specifies carbon bound to hydrogen again centers on C–H bonds, placing it in the organic realm. A phrase like “organic compounds containing carbon” describes organic chemistry in general, not inorganic chemistry, so it doesn’t define inorganic compounds.