A Conversation for Carbon and its Inorganic Compounds

Organic or inorganic?

Post 1

Apollyon - Grammar Fascist

I remember being told in school and college that organic chemistry is the cehmistry of carbon, yet this entry deals with lots of inorganic carbon compounds.

So what is the difference between organic and inorganic compounds?


Organic or inorganic?

Post 2

BigAl Patron Saint of Left Handers Keeper of the Glowing Pickle and Monobrows

Organic chemistry is the study of the chemistry of the carbon compounds. So this definition includes carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonates, carbon disulphide etc. However, these occur chiefly in the inorganic kingdom (in the earliest classification, which separated compounds into three classes, mineral, vegetable and animal). All compounds obtained from vegetable and animal sources always contained at least C and H, but sometimes N and P. All other compounds were deemed to be inorganic.)Hence those compounds detailed above are usually described in textbooks of inorganic chemistry.

smiley - smiley


Organic or inorganic?

Post 3

Apollyon - Grammar Fascist

So in other words, it's traditional?

Question 2: Why is aluminium carbide classed as an ionic carbide containing one carbon atom when it clearly has three?


Organic or inorganic?

Post 4

BigAl Patron Saint of Left Handers Keeper of the Glowing Pickle and Monobrows

No idea,; who said it only has one? It's Al4C3.


Organic or inorganic?

Post 5

Apollyon - Grammar Fascist

Yes, but it's in the entry...


Organic or inorganic?

Post 6

BigAl Patron Saint of Left Handers Keeper of the Glowing Pickle and Monobrows

Oops, only just noticed this. Is it? You have smiley - bigeyes
smiley - runs to check. (I may have to modify what this says) smiley - erm


Organic or inorganic?

Post 7

BigAl Patron Saint of Left Handers Keeper of the Glowing Pickle and Monobrows

Yes, I can see the problem. Both Be2C and Al4C can be considered as being derived from methane, and hence are classified as methanides. Hmm. I need to think smiley - headhurts as to how to phrase this better. smiley - ta for pointing it out. smiley - smiley


Organic or inorganic?

Post 8

BigAl Patron Saint of Left Handers Keeper of the Glowing Pickle and Monobrows

Oops. I meant Al4C3 smiley - grr


Organic or inorganic?

Post 9

BigAl Patron Saint of Left Handers Keeper of the Glowing Pickle and Monobrows

smiley - ok that Section has been re-written now. smiley - ta for that.

smiley - smiley


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