In context|organic chemistry|lang=en terms the difference between carotene and terpene

is that carotene is (organic chemistry) specifically, a number of isomers of tetraterpene hydrocarbons, c₄₀h₅₆, (especially beta-carotene ), present in carrots etc, which are converted into vitamin a in the liver while terpene is (organic chemistry) a very large class of naturally occurring and synthetic organic compounds formally derived from the hydrocarbon isoprene; they include many volatile compounds used in perfume and food flavours, turpentine, the steroids, the carotene pigments and rubber.

As nouns the difference between carotene and terpene

is that carotene is (organic chemistry) a class of tetraterpene plant pigments; they vary in colour from yellow, through orange to red, this colour originating in a chain of alternating single and double bonds while terpene is (organic chemistry) a very large class of naturally occurring and synthetic organic compounds formally derived from the hydrocarbon isoprene; they include many volatile compounds used in perfume and food flavours, turpentine, the steroids, the carotene pigments and rubber.