The key difference between organic and inorganic arsenic is that organic arsenic refers to the organic compounds having covalently bonded arsenic atoms whereas inorganic arsenic refers to the pure metallic form of arsenic or the arsenic that has bonded to non-carbon elements.
Arsenic is a chemical element that has the chemical symbol As and atomic number 75 g/mol. Moreover, it is a metalloid. We can find this chemical element in many compounds and as the pure elemental crystal as well. There are two forms of arsenic that we discuss here; organic arsenic and inorganic arsenic.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Organic Arsenic
3. What is Inorganic Arsenic
4. Side by Side Comparison – Organic vs Inorganic Arsenic in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Organic Arsenic?
The term organic arsenic refers to the organic compounds that have covalently bonded arsenic atoms. People say that this kind of arsenic is relatively safe. These molecules have at least one carbon atom directly bonded to an arsenic atom. There are two main forms of organic arsenic; arsenobetaine and arsenocholine.
Figure 01: Atoxyl
These forms are common in seafood such as in fish. Both are relatively safe, but the second form is more toxic than the first form. The organic arsenic forms that are common in fruits, vegetables, and grains are DMA and MMA.
What is Inorganic Arsenic?
Inorganic arsenic refers to either the pure, metallic form of arsenic or the arsenic that has bonded to non-carbon chemical elements. Consequently, this form is relatively dangerous for our health. Therefore, we consider it as an environmental toxin. This compound is common in rice and drinking water as a contaminant.
The two main forms of inorganic compounds in which this form of arsenic occurs are arsenite and arsenate. The arsenite is toxic than arsenate. However, both are carcinogenic.
What is the Difference Between Organic and Inorganic Arsenic?
The term organic arsenic refers to the organic compounds that have covalently bonded arsenic atoms. This kind of arsenic is considered to be relatively safe. It has arsenic that is directly bonded to at least one carbon atom. Inorganic arsenic refers to either the pure, metallic form of arsenic or the arsenic that has bonded to non-carbon chemical elements. It is more dangerous than organic carbon. Furthermore, it has no carbon atoms or it has no bonds between arsenic and carbon. This is the main difference between
Summary – Organic vs Inorganic Arsenic
Arsenic is considered a toxic element and there are two forms of arsenic as organic arsenic and inorganic arsenic. Researchers say that organic arsenic is relatively safe when compared to organic arsenic. The difference between organic and inorganic arsenic is that organic arsenic refers to the organic compounds that have covalently bonded arsenic atoms whereas inorganic arsenic refers to the pure metallic form of arsenic or the arsenic that has bonded to non-carbon elements.
Reference:
1. “Home.” Vibrant Health. Available here
Image Courtesy:
1.’Atoxyl-2D-skeletal’ (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia