What is the Difference Between Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Organic and inorganic nitrogen refer to the different forms of nitrogen found in organic and inorganic compounds, respectively. The key difference between them lies in the presence of carbon in the molecular structure of organic nitrogen. Organic nitrogen can be found in proteins, peptides, amino acids, and nucleotides, while inorganic nitrogen can occur in nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, and nitrogen gas forms.
Organic nitrogen is present in organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and can be found in decomposing plant and animal matter and humus. Inorganic nitrogen, on the other hand, is present in inorganic compounds that do not have a majority carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen composition. The major forms of inorganic nitrogen are nitrogen gas (N2), nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO2-), and ammonium (NH4+).
The difference between organic and inorganic nitrogen can be summarized as follows:
- Organic nitrogen occurs in organic compounds with a majority carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen composition.
- Inorganic nitrogen occurs in inorganic compounds with a different composition.
- Organic nitrogen is found in substances like amino acids, proteins, and peptides, as well as decomposing plant and animal matter and humus.
- Inorganic nitrogen is found in substances like nitrogen gas, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium.
While both organic and inorganic nitrogen forms occur in the environment, soil, and aquatic systems, organic nitrogen is associated with natural soil organic matter and provides energy to living organisms.
Comparative Table: Organic vs Inorganic Nitrogen
The main difference between organic and inorganic nitrogen lies in their respective sources and structures. Here is summary of the differences in a table:
| Feature | Organic Nitrogen | Inorganic Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Found in living organisms, decaying organic matter, amino acids, proteins, and nucleotides | Found in soil, water, and atmosphere, in forms such as ammonium (NH4+), nitrates (NO3–), nitrogen gas (N2), and nitrites (NO2–) |
| Structure | Contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, in addition to nitrogen | Carbon-free molecules with nitrogen as the main element |
| Composition | Organic compounds with nitrogen as an essential component | Inorganic compounds with nitrogen as an essential component, lacking carbon |
| Environmental Impact | Organic nitrogen is derived from natural sources and typically has a lower environmental impact | Inorganic nitrogen is often synthetic and may have a higher environmental impact, depending on the source |
In summary, organic nitrogen is found in living organisms, decaying matter, and organic compounds, while inorganic nitrogen is present in soil, water, and atmosphere. Organic nitrogen has a lower environmental impact and is derived from natural sources, whereas inorganic nitrogen can be synthetic and may have a higher environmental impact.
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