Organic vs Inorganic Chemistry: Difference and Comparison

Science is a wide term that is comprised of various branches. Chemistry is one of the science branches that includes matter or compounds’ composition and properties.

It includes the reaction of substances with one another. This branch is further divided into organic and inorganic chemistry.

Organic compounds are those that contain carbon, while inorganic compounds do not contain carbon as the constituent element.

Key Takeaways

1. Organic chemistry studies carbon-containing compounds, while inorganic chemistry deals with the remaining elements.
2. Organic chemistry is critical in pharmaceuticals, fuels, and plastics, while inorganic chemistry is essential in materials science, catalysis, and metal extraction.
3. Inorganic compounds exhibit higher stability and can form ionic or covalent bonds, while organic compounds have covalent bonds and display various structures.

Organic vs Inorganic Chemistry

Organic chemistry studies carbon-based substances and their properties and reactions, and organic molecules have complex structures. Inorganic chemistry studies all other chemical compounds, such as metals, minerals, and gases, and inorganic substances are simpler and more common.

Organic Chemistry primarily studies compounds that contain hydrocarbon and carbon composition.

It includes the reaction, preparation, and structure of the elements that are originated from living organisms or living things.

Inorganic chemistry, on the other side, includes compounds that do not contain hydrocarbons, like iron, nickel, copper, etc.

Generally, the inorganic compounds are categorized into acids, bases, and salts. Table salt, also called Sodium chloride, is a major example of the inorganic chemistry.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Organic Chemistry	Inorganic Chemistry
Type of Compounds	Organic chemistry is the brand of chemistry that includes the organic compounds that are mainly consists of carbon atom	Inorganic chemistry is also a chemistry branch that comprised of inorganic compounds that do not contain carbon (exceptions are there)
Volatile	Compounds in organic chemistry are more volatile and also highly inflammable	Compounds in inorganic chemistry are comparatively non-volatile and not inflammable
Existence	It contain compounds that are mainly exists in three major forms, gases, liquids, and solids	Compounds under this branch exist in solid state
Soluble	Organic compounds are insoluble in water but they are soluble in organic solvents	Inorganic compounds are water soluble
Origin	Organic chemistry is comprised of the compounds that are present in the living organisms or living things	Compounds in inorganic chemistry are present and associated with non-living things
Bond	The compounds are linked with each other through covalent bond	Ionic bond is formed between the atoms of the molecules
Conductors	In organic chemistry, compounds are poor conductor of heat and electricity	Inorganic chemistry include the substances that are considered as good conductors of heat and electricity

What is Organic Chemistry?

Organic chemistry is the study of organic compounds that contain carbon. Hydrocarbon is considered the simplest carbon bond, also called alkanes and saturated hydrocarbons.

Carbon can form covalent bonds, and due to this property, it combines with other elements, consequently forming carbon-based structures.

Various physical and chemical properties are associated with the composition of the organic compounds. They are present in living organisms and can also be prepared in the laboratory.

These compounds are mainly comprised of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen and have a complex structure that consequently results in high molecular weight.

Although these substances are soluble in organic solvents, but insoluble in water.

The acids and bases of organic chemistry have limited dissociation and are hence not very strong, but they are volatile.

Organic compounds play a significant role because nearly all living organisms are comprised of carbon or contain carbon. Fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are some major structures of organic compounds.

If combined with metals, the organic compounds form organometallic compounds used for industrial purposes as catalysts, promoters, and stabilizers.

What is Inorganic Chemistry?

Inorganic chemistry deals with inorganic compounds that do not contain carbon as the major constituting element.

This branch of chemistry plays an important role in the industry aspects as it comprises the substances or compounds specifically used in material science and fuels and serves other purposes as well.

Inorganic chemistry categorized the compounds into acids, bases, and salts. These are majorly ionic compounds with high melting points and crystalline structures.

Organic chemistry is comprised of coordination compounds, main group compounds, cluster compounds, coordination compounds, bioinorganic compounds, and transition metal compounds.

Each of these compounds possesses a specific composition and relevant physical and chemical properties.

Main Differences Between Organic and Inorganic Chemistry

1. Organic and Inorganic chemistry are the branches of chemistry that deal with different compounds and substances. Organic chemistry is the brand of chemistry that includes organic compounds that mainly consist of carbon atoms. On the contrary, Inorganic chemistry is also a chemistry branch that is comprised of inorganic compounds that do not contain carbon. Although, exceptions are there.
2. Compounds in organic chemistry are more volatile and also highly inflammable. But inorganic compounds are comparatively non-volatile and not inflammable.
3. Solubility is an important factor in various reactions. Organic compounds are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. On the contrary, compounds in organic chemistry are water-soluble.
4. Organic chemistry is comprised of the compounds that are present in living organisms or living things. While on the other side, Compounds in inorganic chemistry are present and associated with non-living things.
5. The type of bond between the atoms in the molecule plays an important role in defining the chemical and physical properties of the substance. In organic chemistry, compounds are linked with each other through covalent bonds and are poor conductors of heat and electricity. On the contrary, compounds in inorganic chemistry share an ionic bond and are good heat and electricity conductors.

References

1. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/1978/cs/cs9780700359
2. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2005/cc/b415425h