Do Carbon Atoms in Aromatic Hydrocarbon Molecules (Not Ions) Obey

question 17

Multiple Choice

Do carbon atoms in aromatic hydrocarbon molecules (not ions) obey the octet rule?

• A) No, each carbon is bonded to only three atoms, and there are no lone pairs.
• B) No, each carbon has one single bond and one double bond for a total of only six electrons.
• C) Yes, each carbon obeys the octet rule.
• D) Yes, but only because the double bond is counted twice owing to the resonance structures.
• E) Yes, but only when one or the other resonance form dominates, not when the structure is an average of the two.

---

Definitions:

Transcription Factors

Proteins that regulate gene expression by binding to specific DNA sequences, thereby controlling the transfer of genetic information from DNA to mRNA.

Steroids

A large class of organic compounds with a characteristic molecular structure containing four rings of carbon atoms; they include many hormones, alkaloids, and vitamins.

Intracellular Receptors

Proteins located inside the cell that bind to certain substances and initiate a specific cellular response.

First Messenger

A signaling molecule that binds to a receptor on the cell surface, initiating a signal transduction process that leads to the formation of an intracellular second messenger.