Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen atoms. These compounds can be solids, liquids, or gas. Being that an organic compound is a type of carbon compound, it is fair to say that carbon compounds can be found in any state. Some examples of gaseous carbon compounds include carbon dioxide and cyanogen.
Examples of liquid carbon compounds include carbon disulfide and hydrogen cyanide. This basically boils down to the fact that carbon compounds can and do exist in all forms of matter.
Not all carbon compounds are solids which are demonstrated by carbon dioxide, which is a gas. Matter which contains only carbon is solid like diamonds and graphite; however, carbon in the compound form can be solid, liquid or gas.
Examples of solid matter would be anthracite coal which is like glass, and a liquid would be petrochemicals which are derived from fossil fuels like coal and gas would be carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. All life forms contain carbon compounds and carbon is the second most plentiful element in the human body after oxygen. Carbon is profuse in the sun, stars, comets and our atmosphere.
