The 9 differences between organic and inorganic compounds

Chemistry is the scientific discipline whose object of study is the composition of matter and the reactions their interactions elicit. Although there are very different types of chemistry depending on the object of study of the branch in question, traditionally there has been the distinction between organic and inorganic.

But, What differences are there not between types of chemistry but directly between the types of compounds they study? In this article we analyze the main differences between organic and inorganic compounds.

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Chemical compounds

Before seeing what the differences are between them, let's briefly define each of the concepts.

In the first place, we understand a chemical compound as any material or product resulting from the interaction and combination of two or more elements. There are very different types of chemical compounds classifiable according to various criteria, such as the elements that make them up or the way in which they are joined. Among them one of the most basic divisions is between organic and inorganic compounds.

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Organic compounds are all those compounds that are part of living beings or their remains, being based on carbon and its combination with other specific elements.

As far as inorganic compounds are concerned, they arethose that are not part of living organisms, although in them you can find any element of the periodic table (even carbon in some cases). In both cases, they are compounds present in nature, or synthesizable from it in the laboratory (especially inorganic ones).

Differences between organic and inorganic compounds

Organic and inorganic matter have great similarities, but they also have distinctive elements that allow them to be distinguished. Some of the main differences are explained below.

1. Elements that usually configure each type of compound

One of the differences between organic and inorganic compounds that is more marked and at the same time easier to understand is the type of elements that are part of them.

In the case of organic compounds, they are based mainly on carbon and its combination with other elements. They are generally made up of carbon and hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and / or phosphorus.

On the other hand, inorganic compounds can be formed by any element of the periodic table, although they will not be carbon based (although they can contain carbon in some cases, such as carbon monoxide carbon).

2. Main link type

As a general rule, it is considered that all or almost all organic compounds are formed by joining atoms through covalent bonds. In inorganic compounds, on the other hand, ionic or metallic bonds prevail, although other types of bonds may also appear.

3. Stability

Another difference between organic and inorganic compounds is found in the stability of the compounds. While inorganic compounds tend to be stable and not undergo great modifications unless more or less powerful chemical reactions come into play, the organics are destabilized and decomposed with great ease.

4. Complexity

Although it is possible for inorganic compounds to form complex structures, they generally maintain a simple organization. However, organic compounds tend to form long chains of varying complexity.

5. Heat resistance

Another difference between organic and inorganic compounds is found in the amount of heat necessary to produce an alteration such as fusion. Organic compounds are easily affected by temperature, requiring relatively low temperatures to melt them. However, inorganic compounds tend to require a very high level of heat for go into the melting process (for example, water does not boil up to one hundred degrees Celsius).

6. Solubility

Dissolving an organic compound is often very difficult unless you have a specific solvent (such as alcohol), due to its covalent bonds. However, most inorganic compounds, as the ionic type bond prevails, are easily soluble.

7. Electrical conduction

As a general rule, organic compounds tend not to be conductors of electricity and to be insulating. of this, while inorganic components (especially metals) do so with great ease.

8. Isomerism

Isomerism refers to the ability of compounds to appear with different chemical structures despite sharing the same composition (for example, a different order in the chain that makes up a compound will result in compounds with different features). While it can occur in both organic and inorganic compounds, it is much more prevalent in the former due to its tendency to create chains of bonded atoms.

9. Reaction speed

Chemical reactions in inorganic compounds tend to be rapid and do not require the intervention of other elements other than reagents. In contrast, the chemical reactions of inorganic compounds have a variable speed and may require of the presence of external elements to initiate or continue the reaction, for example in the form of Energy.