Which term describes a class of chemical compounds containing carbon and oxygen?

Which term describes a class of chemical compounds containing carbon and oxygen?

• A. Carbonado
• B. Carbonate
• C. Crust
• D. Core

Answer: (B)

A carbonate is a family of compounds defined by the carbonate unit, CO3^2−. This group contains both carbon and oxygen, and when combined with metal ions forms a wide range of minerals, such as calcite (CaCO3) and dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2). That shared carbonate unit is what unites all members of this class. The other terms aren’t a chemical family: carbonado is a form of diamond, while crust and core refer to layers in a planet or rock, not a class of chemical compounds. So the term that describes a class of chemical compounds containing carbon and oxygen is carbonate.

A carbonate is a family of compounds defined by the carbonate unit, CO3^2−. This group contains both carbon and oxygen, and when combined with metal ions forms a wide range of minerals, such as calcite (CaCO3) and dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2). That shared carbonate unit is what unites all members of this class. The other terms aren’t a chemical family: carbonado is a form of diamond, while crust and core refer to layers in a planet or rock, not a class of chemical compounds. So the term that describes a class of chemical compounds containing carbon and oxygen is carbonate.