Difference between organic and inorganic compounds Organic compounds always contain carbon while most inorganic compounds do not contain carbon. Also, nearly all organic compounds contain carbonhydrogen or C-H bonds. Examples of Organic Compounds or Molecules Molecules associated with living organisms are organic. These include nucleic acids, fats, sugars, proteins, enzymes and hydrocarbon fuels. All organic molecules contain carbon, nearly all contain hydrogen, and many also contain oxygen. DNA table sugar or sucrose, C12H22O11 benzene, C6H6 methane, CH4 ethanol or grain alcohol, C2H6O Examples of Inorganic Compounds Inorganics include salts, metals, substances made from single elements and any other compounds that don't contain carbon bonded to hydrogen. Some inorganic molecules do, in fact, contain carbon. table salt or sodium chloride, NaCl carbon dioxide, CO2 diamond (pure carbon) silver Sulfur Organic Compounds Without C-H Bonds There are few organic compounds that don't contain carbon-hydrogen bonds. Examples of these exceptions include: carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) urea [CO(NH2)2] Organic Compounds and Life While most organic compounds encountered in chemistry are produced by living organisms, it's possible for the molecules to form through other processes. These are carbohydrates- Carbohydrate Examples: Glucose, ructose, Sucrose (table sugar), Chitin, Cellulose, Glucose lipids- Examples: Cholesterol, paraffin, , olive oil, margarine, cortisol, estrogen, phospholipid bilayer that forms the cell membrane proteins- Examples: Enzymes, Collagen, Keratin, Albumin, Hemoglobin, Myoglobin, Fibrin nucleic acids- Examples: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), RNA (ribonucleic acid) Other Kinds of Organic Compounds These include solvents, drugs, vitamins, dyes, artificial flavours, toxins, and molecules used as precursors to biochemical compounds. Examples: Acetaldehyde, Acetaminophen, Acetone, Acetylene, Benzaldehyde Biotin, Caffeine, Carbon tetrachloride, Fullerene, Heptane, Methanol Mustard gas, Vanillin
