What element do all organic compounds contain?

1 Answer
Meave60
Aug 1, 2017

All organic compounds contain carbon, as well as hydrogen, unless it has been replaced by another element.

Explanation:

Methane, #"CH"_4"#, is the simplest organic compound.

The hydrogen atoms in methane can be replaced by other elements.

#"CH"_4" + 2Cl"_2##rarr##"CCl"_4"#

Methane plus chlorine produces carbon tetrachloride, or tetrachloromethane. Even though carbon tetrachloride does not have hydrogen, it is still organic. Carbon tetrachloride is an organic solvent.

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