Cadaverine and Putrescine are examples of which category?

• A. Ptomaines
• B. End products
• C. Hydrocarbons
• D. Gases

Answer: (A)

Cadaverine and putrescine are nitrogen-containing amines produced during the putrefaction of proteins by bacteria. This class of compounds is known as ptomaines, which are basic, foul-smelling amines formed in decaying tissue or spoiled protein foods. They’re not hydrocarbons, and while some amines can be volatile, they aren’t simply gases, and the term end products is too generic for this specific bacterial byproduct. So the best category for these compounds is ptomaines.