Which term describes a class of compounds that consist of carbon atoms joined by bonds?

• A. Inorganic Compounds
• B. Organic Compounds
• C. Hydrocarbons
• D. Polymers

Answer: (B)

Carbon atoms bonding to other atoms to form backbones is the defining idea here. The broad class that describes compounds built from carbon joined by covalent bonds is organic compounds. This includes a huge variety of molecules, from simple hydrocarbons to complex biomolecules like sugars, amino acids, and fats.

Inorganic compounds, by contrast, generally do not rely on carbon–carbon backbones (with a few traditional exceptions like carbonates). Hydrocarbons are a subset of organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen. Polymers are large molecules that can be either organic or inorganic, but the term that encompasses most carbon-based structures is organic compounds.