Which class of organic compound must contain at least three carbon atoms?
A - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 10 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 10
Which class of organic compound must contain at least three carbon atoms?
A. Aldehydes
B. Alkenes
C. Carboxylic acids
D. Ketones
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Which class of organic compound must contain at least three carbon atoms?
A - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 10 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
A. Aldehydes
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Answer
Aldehydes can have a one-carbon structure (e.g., formaldehyde) and thus do not necessarily contain at least three carbon atoms.
Step 2
B. Alkenes
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Answer
Alkenes can also be two-carbon compounds (e.g., ethylene), meaning they do not have to contain at least three carbon atoms.
Step 3
C. Carboxylic acids
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Answer
Carboxylic acids can exist as two-carbon compounds (e.g., acetic acid) and do not require a minimum of three carbon atoms.
Step 4
D. Ketones
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Answer
Ketones must have at least three carbon atoms in their simplest form, as they consist of a carbonyl group located between two carbon atoms. Therefore, the correct answer is D.
