The key difference between organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry is that the organic chemistry is the field of chemistry that deals with the structure, properties, reactions and other facts about organic compounds whereas the inorganic chemistry is the field of chemistry that deals with inorganic compounds.
Chemistry is basically, the branch of science concerned with the substances of which matter is composed, the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new substances. When we say “organic chemistry”, it deals with organic compounds while “inorganic chemistry” deals with inorganic compounds.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Organic Chemistry
3. What is Inorganic Chemistry
4. Side by Side Comparison – Organic Chemistry vs Inorganic Chemistry in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Organic Chemistry?
Organic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with organic compounds. An organic compound is a chemical compound which contains one or more carbon atoms as an essential component. These carbon atoms link to each other or other chemical elements via covalent chemical bonds. However, some carbon-containing compounds are not considered as organic compounds; they are categorized as inorganic compounds, i.e. carbonates and cyanides are inorganic compounds mainly because of historical reasons (these compounds were historically named as inorganic compounds). Furthermore, almost all the organic compounds contain a C-H covalent bond.
Figure 01: A Biological Toxin – most of the Biological Materials are Organic Compounds
Mainly, most of the molecules that associate with living organisms are organic. For example, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, etc. All organic molecules contain carbon, nearly all contain hydrogen, and may also contain oxygen. The field of organic chemistry studies about structure, properties, classifications, reactions and many other facts about these compounds.
What is Inorganic Chemistry?
Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with inorganic compounds. An inorganic compound is any compound that is not an organic compound. In other words, inorganic compounds are all the compounds other than organic compounds. Therefore, there are no essential carbon atoms or C-H bonds in these compounds.
Figure 02: Inorganic Chemistry deals with a wide range of inorganic compounds including A) simple molecules, B) salts C) organometallic complexes, D) Silicones, E) catalysts, F) minerals and G) metallic compounds
This category includes the salts, metals, and other elemental compounds. However, some inorganic compounds contain carbon atoms. The field of inorganic chemistry is the study of properties, classifications, reactions and many other facts about these compounds.
What is the Difference Between Organic Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry?
Organic chemistry is the field of chemistry that deals with the structure, properties, reactions and other facts about organic compounds whereas inorganic chemistry is the field of chemistry that deals with inorganic compounds. This is the key difference between organic and inorganic chemistry. Since most of the organic compounds are covalent compounds, we have to deal mainly with covalent compounds during the study of organic chemistry. However, most of the inorganic compounds are ionic compounds. Hence we have to deal with ionic compounds during the study of inorganic chemistry. Hence, this is a major difference between organic and inorganic chemistry.
Further differences are shown in the infographic of the difference between organic and inorganic chemistry.
Summary – Organic Chemistry vs Inorganic Chemistry
Organic and inorganic chemistry are two major branches of chemistry. The key difference between organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry is that the organic chemistry is the field of chemistry which deals with the structure, properties, reactions and other facts about organic compounds whereas the inorganic chemistry is the field of chemistry which deals with inorganic compounds.
Reference:
1. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. “The Difference Between Organic and Inorganic.” ThoughtCo, Oct. 5, 2018. Available here
2. “Organic Chemistry.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Oct. 2018. Available here
Image Courtesy:
1.”Maitotoxin 2D structure”By Charlesy – Own work, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2.”Inorganic-montage” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia