Which of the following compounds is an example of an organic molecule?

• A. ${\mathrm{CH}}_4$ (methane)
• B. $\mathrm{NaCl}$ (sodium chloride)
• C. ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ (carbon dioxide)
• D. $H_{2}O$ (water)

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of an organic molecule: Organic molecules primarily contain carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms, often along with other elements like oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, etc.
2. Examine each compound to see if it fits the criteria of an organic molecule:
3. 1. \(\mathrm{CH_4}\) (methane) consists of carbon bonded to hydrogen atoms, which is a classic example of an organic molecule.
4. 2. \(\mathrm{NaCl}\) (sodium chloride) is an ionic compound made of sodium and chlorine ions, with no carbon-hydrogen bonds, so it is inorganic.
5. 3. \(\mathrm{CO_2}\) (carbon dioxide) contains carbon but is bonded to oxygen atoms only, and it is considered inorganic because it lacks carbon-hydrogen bonds.
6. 4. \(\mathrm{H_2O}\) (water) contains no carbon atoms, so it is inorganic.