Which of the following is an organic molecule, containing carbon bonded to hydrogen in a structure typical of organic chemistry?

Introduction / Context:
Organic chemistry is defined as the study of carbon containing compounds, especially those that have carbon hydrogen bonds and often carbon carbon bonds as well. Many important biomolecules such as sugars, fats, proteins and nucleic acids are organic. At the same time, not every compound that contains carbon is treated as organic in basic chemistry. This question asks you to identify which listed substance is correctly classified as an organic molecule based on its composition and typical treatment in chemistry.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options include nitrogen gas, ammonia, fructose, water and sodium chloride.
• Organic molecules usually contain carbon and hydrogen and belong to families such as carbohydrates, hydrocarbons, alcohols and so on.
• We assume a basic distinction between organic and inorganic chemistry as taught in school level courses.
• Fructose is recognised as a simple sugar found in fruits and honey.

Concept / Approach:
The core idea is that organic compounds are carbon based, typically featuring carbon hydrogen bonds, and often belonging to classes like carbohydrates, lipids or hydrocarbons. Nitrogen gas, water and sodium chloride do not contain carbon at all, so they are clearly inorganic. Ammonia contains nitrogen and hydrogen but no carbon, and is classified as an inorganic compound. Fructose, on the other hand, has the formula C6H12O6, indicating it is a carbon containing molecule with multiple C H and C O bonds, and is classified as an organic carbohydrate. The approach is simply to identify the carbon containing, biologically important molecule among the choices.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine nitrogen gas, N2, which is composed only of nitrogen atoms and contains no carbon, so it is inorganic. Step 2: Consider ammonia, NH3, which has nitrogen and hydrogen but again no carbon atoms, making it an inorganic nitrogen compound. Step 3: Look at fructose, C6H12O6, which clearly contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and is a typical sugar found in fruits. Step 4: Recognise that water, H2O, and sodium chloride, NaCl, are both inorganic; water is a simple molecule and sodium chloride is an ionic salt. Step 5: Since fructose is a carbon based sugar with C H bonds and is studied in organic chemistry, it is the organic molecule among the options.

Verification / Alternative check:
Chemistry textbooks classify carbohydrates such as glucose, fructose and sucrose as organic molecules and study them under organic chemistry and biochemistry. These molecules contain carbon skeletons and are central to metabolism in living organisms. In contrast, nitrogen gas is discussed in inorganic and atmospheric chemistry, ammonia in inorganic and industrial chemistry, water in physical and inorganic chemistry, and sodium chloride as a typical ionic compound. Reviewing chapter headings in standard chemistry books confirms that fructose is covered in the organic chemistry sections, supporting its classification as the organic molecule here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, nitrogen gas, lacks carbon and is not organic. Option B, ammonia, although it contains hydrogen, has no carbon and is therefore inorganic. Option D, water, is a simple inorganic molecule despite its importance for life. Option E, sodium chloride, is an ionic salt composed of a metal and a nonmetal and is clearly inorganic. Only option C, fructose (C6H12O6), is an organic molecule with a carbon backbone typical of carbohydrates.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners wrongly assume that any molecule important in life, such as water or ammonia, must be organic. Others think that containing hydrogen is enough to make a molecule organic. The key point is the presence of carbon in a molecular framework with carbon hydrogen or carbon carbon bonds. While some carbon containing compounds like carbon dioxide or carbonates are traditionally treated as inorganic, sugars like fructose are undisputedly organic. Remember that carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids are classic families of organic biomolecules.

Final Answer:
The organic molecule among the options is Fructose (C6H12O6), a simple sugar carbohydrate, which contains carbon in a typical organic structure.