What is the Difference Between Organic and Inorganic Substances?

The main difference between organic and inorganic substances lies in their origin, chemical properties, elemental identities, and bonds. Organic substances are generally compounds that include carbon atoms, and typically hydrogen-carbon bonds, while inorganic substances generally don't include carbon atoms. Here are some key differences between organic and inorganic compounds:

• Origin: Organic compounds are derived from or produced by living organisms, while inorganic compounds are derived from nonliving components.
• Carbon atoms: Almost all organic compounds contain carbon-hydrogen or a simple C-H bond in them, whereas most inorganic compounds do not have carbon atoms in them (some exceptions do exist).
• Chemical properties: Organic compounds tend to have carbon-hydrogen covalent bonds, while inorganic compounds generally have ionic bonds.
• Examples: Some examples of organic compounds include urea, ATP, ethanol, and cholesterol. Examples of inorganic compounds include ammonia, sodium chloride, potassium bromide, and calcium chloride.

Organic and inorganic compounds form the primary basis for chemistry, with the study of organic compounds known as organic chemistry and the study of inorganic compounds known as inorganic chemistry.

Comparative Table: Organic vs Inorganic Substances

The main difference between organic and inorganic substances lies in their sources, chemical properties, and the presence of carbon atoms. Here's a table summarizing the differences between organic and inorganic substances:

Organic substances are derived from or produced by living organisms and are characterized by the presence of carbon-hydrogen bonds. In contrast, inorganic substances are derived from nonliving components and generally have ionic bonds between atoms of molecules. The study of organic substances is called organic chemistry, while the study of inorganic substances is called inorganic chemistry.