What is the difference between an organic compound and an inorganic compound?

Answer 1

In general, if a compound contains carbon it is organic. The reason for this is that carbon is considered to be the building block of life, and inorganic compounds are said to be more mineral than biological. There are, however, a few cases of carbon-containing compounds which are considered inorganic because of convention, some being carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, cyanides and the allotropes of carbon.

Answer 2

In general organic compounds / substances / materials contain carbon atoms bonded with other atoms and/or those related to life. It is the chemistry of carbon containing compounds.

Inorganic is everything else and generally do not contain carbon (with some exceptions).

Answer 3

In general organic compounds / substances / materials contain carbon atoms bonded with other atoms and/or those related to life. It is the chemistry of carbon containing compounds.

Inorganic is everything else and generally do not contain carbon (with some exceptions).

Answer 4

It's arbitrary (and some chemicals are classed as both);
but in general organic contains carbon molecules and/or those related to life. It is the chemistry of carbon containing compounds.
Inorganic is everything else and generally do not contain carbon (with some exceptions).

Answer 5

All organic compounds contain carbon, hydrogen, inorganics do not.

Answer 6

Basically, organic compounds have carbon. Inorganic do not.

Answer 7

Basically, organic compounds have carbon. Inorganic do not (though there are some exceptions).