What is the difference between organic and inorganic compounds?

Answer 1

Organic compounds are made from things which were once alive and, therefore, they contain carbon. Inorganic compounds, however, do not contain carbon.

1. Carbon is an essential element in all organic compounds while inorganic compounds may or may not contain carbon.
2. Organic compounds do not dissolve in water but dissolve in organic solvents. Most Inorganic compounds dissolve in water but not in organic solvents.
3. Organic compounds have low melting and boiling points. Inorganic compounds have high melting and boiling points.
4. Organic compounds form covalent bonds while inorganic compounds form ionic/electrovalent bonds.
5. Organic compounds have color and odor while inorganic compounds are usually colourless and odorless.
6. Organic compounds e.g. methane, ethane, acetylene, alcohols etc. Inorganic compounds e.g. carbon dioxide, sulphuric acid, salts etc.

Organic compounds are produced by living things. Inorganic compounds are produced by non-living natural processes or by human intervention in the laboratory.

The presence of carbon determines if a compound is organic or not. All organic compounds have carbon in them.