Question

A student states that this structural formula represents a hydrocarbon.

Answer 1

The answer is C) No, a hydrocarbon contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Answer 2

Answer: Yes, a hydrocarbon is any compound that contains hydrogen and oxygen.

Justification:

First, I will try to rewrite the given structural formula since it is misrepresented.

This should be the right structural formula:

       H    H
       |      |
H - C  -  C - OH
       |      |
      H     H

And, yes the definition of hydrocarbon is that it is most simple organic compound constitured only by atoms of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H).

By the way, that hydrocarbon is also represented as CH3 - CH2 OH, it is an alcohol (since it has the functional group OH) and its name is ethanol.