Which of the following elements is NOT typically included in the definition of organic material?

Organic material is typically defined by its composition, primarily consisting of carbon-based compounds that are essential to life. Within this context, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are all organic compounds because they are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and sometimes nitrogen and other elements.

Minerals, on the other hand, are inorganic substances that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, which is a key characteristic of organic matter. They play important roles in biological systems, such as serving as nutrients and building blocks for various compounds, but they do not fit within the definition of organic materials because they lack the carbon-based structure that defines organic compounds. This distinction clarifies why minerals are not typically included in the definition of organic material.