​​​​​​​Organic vs. Inorganic Chemistry

Chemistry is divided into several branches, and organic and inorganic chemistry are two of the main ones. They differ in what they study, the types of compounds, and their applications.

🧪 1. What is Organic Chemistry?

Organic chemistry is the study of carbon-containing compounds, especially those with carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds.

📌 Key features:

• Focuses on living things and biological processes

• Contains mainly carbon, hydrogen, often oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, etc.

• Millions of organic compounds exist

• Often complex molecules

🔬 Examples:

• Methane (CH₄)

• Ethanol (C₂H₅OH)

• Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆)

• Proteins, fats, DNA

🧬 Applications:

• Medicine & drugs (pharmaceuticals)

• Plastics & polymers

• Fuels (like gasoline, diesel)

• Agriculture (pesticides, fertilizers)

⚗️ 2. What is Inorganic Chemistry?

Inorganic chemistry studies non-carbon compounds, especially those that are not biological in origin.

📌 Key features:

• Studies metals, minerals, and non-living substances

• Deals with compounds without C-H bonds

• Includes salts, acids, bases, and metal complexes

• Simpler structures than organic compounds

🔬 Examples:

• Sodium chloride (NaCl)

• Water (H₂O)

• Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄)

• Ammonia (NH₃)

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

🧱 Applications:

• Batteries & electronics

• Construction materials (cement, glass)

• Industrial catalysts

• Fertilizers (like ammonium nitrate)

🔍 Main Differences Between Organic and Inorganic Chemistry

🧠 Fun Fact:

While carbon dioxide (CO₂) contains carbon, it is considered inorganic, because it doesn’t have a C-H bond — the main requirement for organic classification.

✅ Summary

• Organic chemistry = carbon-based, related to life

• Inorganic chemistry = all other compounds, metals, and minerals

• Both are essential for science, medicine, industry, and daily life