AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Organic molecules don’t just contain carbon. They contain hydrocarbons or carbon bonded to hydrogen. But in carbondioxide, it is not present, so it is not an organic compound.

Detailed explanation-2: -Currently, organic compounds are defined as covalently bonded compounds containing carbon, excluding carbonates and oxides. By this definition, compounds such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) are considered to be inorganic. Organic chemistry is the study of all organic compounds.

Detailed explanation-3: -Carbon dioxide isn’t the only compound that contains carbon but isn’t organic. Other examples include carbon monoxide (CO), sodium bicarbonate, iron cyanide complexes, and carbon tetrachloride.

Detailed explanation-4: -Carbon compounds such as carbides (e.g., silicon carbide [SiC2]), some carbonates (e.g., calcium carbonate [CaCO3]), some cyanides (e.g., sodium cyanide [NaCN]), graphite, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide are classified as inorganic.

Detailed explanation-5: -The few carbon-containing compounds not classified as organic include carbides, carbonates, and cyanides.