Substances containing carbon are described as which type of compounds?

• A. Organic
• B. Inorganic
• C. Metallic
• D. Aqueous

Answer: (A)

Substances that contain carbon are described as organic compounds. This category is defined by carbon-based structures, especially carbon–hydrogen bonds, which form the backbone of many molecules such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and vitamins. The idea behind this classification is that carbon-rich molecules form the vast, diverse family studied in organic chemistry, whereas compounds lacking carbon–hydrogen bonds are generally placed in the inorganic group. The other options don’t fit because metallic refers to materials with metallic bonding, and aqueous describes a state of matter (a solution in water) rather than a chemical family. This distinction helps explain why most nutrients studied in health and nutrition are organic.