Organic Compounds
* Glucose (C6H12O6): A simple sugar with six carbon, twelve hydrogen, and six oxygen atoms.
* Sucrose (C12H22O11): Table sugar, composed of twelve carbon, twenty-two hydrogen, and eleven oxygen atoms.
* Aspirin (C9H8O4): A common pain reliever, containing nine carbon, eight hydrogen, and four oxygen atoms.
* Caffeine (C8H10N4O2): A stimulant found in coffee and tea, with eight carbon, ten hydrogen, four nitrogen, and two oxygen atoms.
* DNA (C5H10N5O7P): Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information. Each repeating unit contains five carbon, ten hydrogen, five nitrogen, seven oxygen, and one phosphorus atom.
Inorganic Compounds
* Sulfuric acid (H2SO4): A strong acid used in many industrial processes, with two hydrogen, one sulfur, and four oxygen atoms.
* Phosphoric acid (H3PO4): Another important industrial acid, containing three hydrogen, one phosphorus, and four oxygen atoms.
* Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3): A common fertilizer and explosive, composed of four hydrogen, two nitrogen, and three oxygen atoms.
* Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3): Baking soda, containing one sodium, one hydrogen, one carbon, and three oxygen atoms.
Important Notes:
* Covalent bonds: These compounds are held together by the sharing of electrons between atoms.
* Polyatomic ions: Many of these compounds contain polyatomic ions, which are groups of atoms that act as a single unit. For example, the phosphate ion (PO43-) is a common polyatomic ion found in phosphoric acid.
* Complex structures: Compounds with more than three elements can have complex structures. For instance, DNA has a double helix structure.
This is just a small sample of covalent compounds with more than three elements. There are many other examples, and their number and complexity is vast.
