What Is the Difference Between Organic and Inorganic?

Question: What Is the Difference Between Organic and Inorganic?

Organic compounds and inorganic compounds form the basis for chemistry. Here is a look at the difference between organic and inorganic compounds, plus examples of each type.

Answer: The primary difference between organic compounds and inorganic compounds is that organic compounds always contain carbon while most inorganic compounds do not contain carbon. Also, all organic compounds contain carbon-hydrogen or C-H bonds.

Examples of Organic Compounds or Molecules

Molecules associated with living organisms are organic. These include nucleic acids, fats, sugars, proteins, enzymes and many fuels.

• DNA
• table sugar or sucrose, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁
• benzene, C₆H₆
• methane, CH₄

Examples of Inorganic Compounds

Inorganics include salts, metals, substances made from single elements and any other compounds that don't contain carbon bonded to hydrogen.

• table salt or sodium chloride, NaCl
• carbon dioxide, CO₂
• diamond (pure carbon)