Which of the following represents an organic compound?

• A. ${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{OH}$
• B. $H_{2}O$
• C. ${\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{SO}{4}_{\mathrm{}}$
• D. ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{\mathrm{CO}}{3}_{\mathrm{}}$

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify what defines an organic compound: Organic compounds primarily contain carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen, often along with other elements like oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, etc.
2. Examine each given formula to check for the presence of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds, which are characteristic of organic compounds.
3. Look at \(\mathrm{CH_3OH}\) (methanol): It contains carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), with carbon bonded to hydrogen, fitting the definition of an organic compound.
4. Check \(\mathrm{H_2O}\) (water): It contains hydrogen and oxygen but no carbon, so it is inorganic.
5. Review \(\mathrm{Na_2SO_4}\) (sodium sulfate) and \(\mathrm{CaCO_3}\) (calcium carbonate): Both contain carbon but are salts with ionic bonds and no C-H bonds, classifying them as inorganic compounds.