Final answer:
Organic compounds are molecules composed of carbon atoms covalently bonded to hydrogen, usually oxygen, and sometimes other elements such as nitrogen, which include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of compound that has one or more atoms of carbon covalently linked to atoms of other elements, most commonly hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen, is known as organic compounds. These compounds are essential to life and include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Organic compounds are characterized by the presence of carbon atoms which are able to form stable covalent bonds with a variety of other elements including hydrogen, typically resulting in complex molecules found in all forms of life. For example, hydrocarbons are the simplest form of organic compounds, consisting of carbon and hydrogen, and can be categorized into aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons.