What is the Difference Between Organic and Inorganic Molecules?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between organic and inorganic molecules lies in their origin, chemical properties, elemental composition, and bonds. Here are the key differences:
- Origin: Organic molecules are derived from or produced by living organisms, while inorganic molecules are obtained from nonliving sources, such as minerals and metals.
- Carbon content: Organic molecules contain carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds, while most inorganic molecules do not contain carbon atoms, with some exceptions.
- Chemical properties: Organic compounds are generally more complex and have carbon-hydrogen bonds, whereas inorganic compounds are generally simpler and have ionic bonds.
Examples of organic compounds include urea, ATP, ethanol, and cholesterol. Examples of inorganic compounds include ammonia, sodium chloride, potassium bromide, and calcium chloride.
Comparative Table: Organic vs Inorganic Molecules
The main difference between organic and inorganic molecules lies in their composition, origin, and chemical properties. Here is a table comparing the two types of molecules:
| Property | Organic Molecules | Inorganic Molecules |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Derived from or produced by living organisms | Derived from nonliving components |
| Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds | Contain carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds | Lack carbon-hydrogen bonds, but may contain carbon atoms |
| Examples | Urea, ATP, ethanol, and cholesterol | Ammonia, sodium chloride, potassium bromide, and calcium chloride |
| Elemental Composition | Contain carbon, hydrogen, and sometimes additional elements (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur) | Primarily consist of elements other than carbon and hydrogen |
| Bonding | Form covalent bonds | Form ionic bonds between atoms of molecules |
| Aqueous Solutions | Poor conductors of heat and electricity | Good conductors of heat and electricity |
| Examples | Fats, nucleic acids, sugars, enzymes, proteins, and hydrocarbon fuels | Non-metals, salts, metals, acids, bases, substances made from single elements |
Organic molecules are derived from or produced by living organisms and contain carbon-hydrogen covalent bonds, while inorganic molecules are derived from nonliving components and generally have ionic bonds. Organic molecules are primarily composed of carbon, hydrogen, and sometimes additional elements like oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, whereas inorganic molecules primarily consist of elements other than carbon and hydrogen.
- Organic Chemistry vs Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Compound vs Inorganic Compound
- Organic vs Inorganic Polymers
- Organic vs Inorganic Substances
- Inorganic vs Organic Carbon
- Organic Acid vs Inorganic Acid
- Organic vs Inorganic Catalysts
- Organic vs Inorganic Nitrogen
- Organic vs Inorganic Sulfur
- Molecules vs Compounds
- Organic vs Inorganic Fertilizer
- Natural vs Organic
- Organic vs Inorganic Phosphate
- Molecule vs Atom
- Organic Pigments vs Inorganic Pigments
- Atom vs Molecule
- Acyclic vs Cyclic Organic Compounds
- Particle vs Molecule
- Element vs Molecule