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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Xptboy on May 30, 2010, 05:00:29 PM

Title: Difference between Organic and Inorganic molecules?
Post by: Xptboy on May 30, 2010, 05:00:29 PM

How am I able to tell if one molecule is organic or inorganic?

Title: Re: Difference between Organic and Inorganic molecules?
Post by: Borek on May 30, 2010, 05:32:53 PM

Burn it.

Title: Re: Difference between Organic and Inorganic molecules?
Post by: nikium on May 30, 2010, 06:51:09 PM

Organic molecules must contain carbon and hydrogen at the very least (diamond is not organic) although many organic molecules contain oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur among others. Organic molecules are linked by covalent bonds, generally. Ionic bonds are more typical in organic reagents.

Title: Re: Difference between Organic and Inorganic molecules?
Post by: Xptboy on May 30, 2010, 08:01:22 PM

thanks... I'll try ask a question that's a little harder next time lol...

Title: Re: Difference between Organic and Inorganic molecules?
Post by: AWK on May 31, 2010, 02:20:07 AM

Generally organic compound should contain at least one C-H bond. Only HCN is sometimes listed as inorganic but its hydrolysis leads to HCOOH which is without no doubt organic compound.

Title: Re: Difference between Organic and Inorganic molecules?
Post by: Schrödinger on May 31, 2010, 02:38:40 AM

@AWK: Are CFCs and hexachlorobenzene and compounds like these regarded as inorganic too?

Title: Re: Difference between Organic and Inorganic molecules?
Post by: AWK on May 31, 2010, 06:56:23 AM

There is no sharp bordeline between inorganic and organic compounds. You may be dubious about many carbon compounds do not contain C-H bond, eg CCl4, CO, CO2, C3O2, C12O9, C60O, CO(NH2)2, HN=CO, HO-CN, HO-N=C and so on . Note - urea is treated as organic about 200 years