VOC refers to which type of compounds released from inks and solvents?

• A. Very Organic Compounds
• B. Volatile Organic Compounds released from inks and solvents
• C. Visual Optic Chemical
• D. Vapor Organic Compounds

Answer: (B)

Volatile Organic Compounds are carbon-based chemicals that readily evaporate at room temperature. In printing, inks and cleaning solvents contain many of these compounds, so as the ink dries or the solvent evaporates, VOCs are released into the air. The option describing Volatile Organic Compounds released from inks and solvents captures both the property (volatile) and the source (inks and solvents), which is why it's the best choice. The other labels aren’t standard terms for this concept, such as “Very Organic Compounds,” which isn’t used, or “Visual Optic Chemical,” which doesn’t describe a chemical group. “Vapor Organic Compounds” isn’t the conventional term; the established acronym VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. Common VOCs in printing include toluene, xylene, acetone, and ethyl acetate.