Download How do you tell the difference between Organic and Inorganic

How do you tell the difference
between Organic* and Inorganic
Compounds?
Assembled By T. Brown 2012
* For purposes of this discussion we are using the term “organic” as the formal
chemistry meaning used to divide chemistry into two fields of living and nonliving. We are not (for purposes of this discussion) using the “grocery store”
definition of “organic foods” grown naturally without synthetic pesticides,
herbicides, growth hormones, etc...
By T. Brown 2012
How do you tell the difference between Organic and Inorganic Compounds?
INORGANIC
GENERAL RULES:
• Sometimes Contain Carbon
• Many do not include CARBON.
• Not associated with Living Organisms.
EXAMPLES
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Oxygen O2
Table salt or Sodium Chloride, NaCl
Carbon Dioxide, CO2 *Even though it contains Carbon.
Diamond (pure carbon)
EXEPTIONS TO THE RULE & CONFUSING BITS:
“For historical reasons, a few types of carboncontaining compounds such as carbides, carbonates,
simple oxides of carbon (such as CO and CO2), and
cyanides, as well as the allotropes of carbon such as
diamond and graphite, are considered inorganic. The
distinction between "organic" and "inorganic" carbon
compounds, while "useful in organizing the vast subject
of chemistry... is somewhat arbitrary”. 1
ORGANIC
GENERAL RULES:
• ALWAYS Contain Carbon
• MOST contain Carbon – Hydrogen Bonds
• Most always associated with living
organisms.
EXAMPLES:
 Glucose C6H12O6
 Carbon Tetrachloride CCl4 *Notice this is classified as
organic, without C-H bonds.
 Urea CO(NH2)2
EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE & CONFUSING BITS:
So if it contains carbon, it may be classified as organic,
but a few of things like CO2 that are essential to life
processes and contain carbon are not classified as organic
because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” (sigh) We
do however include deadly poisons and other synthetic
chemicals which are never found in nature. (This is ironic
considering the other “grocery store” definition of
organic.)
References Drawn Upon…
http://chemistry.about.com/od/branchesofchemistry/f/What-Is-The-Difference-Between-Organic-And-Inorganic.htm
1 Spencer L. Seager, Michael R. Slabaugh. Chemistry for Today: general, organic, and biochemistry. Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2004, p. 342.
Assembled By T. Brown 2012