PCBs are best described as which class of chemicals?

PCBs are best described as which class of chemicals?

• A. Organochlorines
• B. Dioxins
• C. Polychlorinated biphenyl
• D. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Answer: (C)

Polychlorinated biphenyls are a family of synthetic organic chemicals consisting of two connected benzene rings (biphenyl) with multiple chlorine atoms attached. This structure defines the group and sets it apart from dioxins, which have a dibenzo-dioxin ring system, and from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are fused ring systems without the biphenyl backbone and chlorine substitutions. While organochlorines is a broader category that includes PCBs, the specific class described by this name is polychlorinated biphenyls. PCBs are known for being persistent and bioaccumulative, and they were widely used as dielectric fluids in electrical equipment.

Polychlorinated biphenyls are a family of synthetic organic chemicals consisting of two connected benzene rings (biphenyl) with multiple chlorine atoms attached. This structure defines the group and sets it apart from dioxins, which have a dibenzo-dioxin ring system, and from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are fused ring systems without the biphenyl backbone and chlorine substitutions. While organochlorines is a broader category that includes PCBs, the specific class described by this name is polychlorinated biphenyls. PCBs are known for being persistent and bioaccumulative, and they were widely used as dielectric fluids in electrical equipment.