h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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 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.

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?

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

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

Oops, only just noticed this. Is it? You have
s to check. (I may have to modify what this says)

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 as to how to phrase this better. for pointing it out.

Oops. I meant Al4C3

that Section has been re-written now. for that.