Chapter 12, Problem 1AC

To determine

An organic compound which contains hydrogen and carbon only from the following options:

hydrogen carbide.

hydrocarbon.

organic compound.

hydrocarbide.

Answer to Problem 1AC

Solution:

Option (b) is correct.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

A class of compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen is known as hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons may contain carbon-carbon single, double and triple bonds. Depending on the type of carbon-carbon bonds, hydrocarbons are classified as:

Alkanes: If all the carbon atoms are linked by a single bond, the class of hydrocarbons are called as alkanes.

Alkenes: If all the carbon atoms are linked by a double bond, the class of hydrocarbons are called as alkenes.

Alkynes: If all the carbon atoms are linked by a triple bond, the class of hydrocarbons are called as alkynes.

Explanation:

Reason for the correct option:

Hydrocarbon is composed of two words hydrogen and carbon. This represents a class of organic compounds which contains only two elements: hydrogen and carbon. It is a specific type of organic compound which lacks other elements like oxygen, nitrogen or any other elements.

For example: methane $\left({\text{CH}}_4\right)$, ethane $\left({\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_6\right)$, ethene $\left({\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_4\right)$, etc..

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Reason for the incorrect options:

Option (a) is incorrect because carbides are a class of compounds which contains carbon and a less electronegative element in it. It can be a metal like Fe, W or a metalloid like Si. For example: ${\text{Fe}}_4{\text{C}}_3$(ferric carbide), $\text{SiC}$(silicon carbide). So, it is a wrong answer.

Option (c) is incorrect because organic compounds include a class of compounds containing carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen etc. Here, carbon is the main element present. So, it is a wrong answer.

Option (d) is incorrect because hydro carbides refer to compounds consisting of hydrogen with carbides. Thus, it may contain any other element than carbon. So, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect.

Conclusion:

Therefore, an organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen is hydrocarbon.