Organic and Inorganic Compounds

Organic compounds always contain the elements carbon and hydrogen, and many contain oxygen and/or nitrogen.

For example:

• glucose, C6​H12​O6​

• glycine (an amino acid), C2​H5​NO2​.

Organic compounds are usually produced by living organisms or from the decay of dead organisms (remember crude oil and coal formation)

Inorganic compounds can also contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, but can be made without the involvement of living organisms.

For example:

• carbon dioxide, CO​2

• water, H2​O

• hydrogen carbonate ions, HCO3​−.

This topic will focus on biochemicals – these are the compounds made by and found in living organisms:

• carbohydrates

• lipids

• proteins.