How do you tell the difference

between Organic* and Inorganic

Compounds?
Assembled By T. Brown 2012
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 non-
living. 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...
How do you tell the difference between Organic and Inorganic Compounds?
Assembled By T. Brown 2012
ORGANIC
GENERAL RULES:
ALWAYS Contain Carbon
MOST contain Carbon Hydrogen Bonds
Most always associated with living
organisms.
EXAMPLES:

Glucose C
6
H
12
O
6
Carbon Tetrachloride CCl
4
*Notice this is classified as
organic, without C-H bonds.
Urea CO(NH
2
)
2


EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE & CONFUSING BITS:
So if it contains carbon, it may be classified as organic,
but a few of things like CO
2
that are essential to life
processes and contain carbon are not classified as organic
because thats the way weve 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.)
INORGANIC
GENERAL RULES:
Sometimes Contain Carbon
Many do not include CARBON.
Not associated with Living Organisms.

EXAMPLES
Oxygen O
2
Table salt or Sodium Chloride, NaCl
Carbon Dioxide, CO
2
*Even though it contains Carbon.
Diamond (pure carbon)

EXEPTIONS TO THE RULE & CONFUSING BITS:
For historical reasons, a few types of carbon-
containing 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
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.