Chemistry
State five differences between the characteristics of organic and inorganic compounds. State how organic compounds are classified.
Answer
Five differences between the characteristics of organic and inorganic compounds:
| Characteristic | Organic Compound | Inorganic Compound |
|---|---|---|
| Presence of carbon | Carbon is a necessary element in every organic compound. | Carbon is not an essential element in inorganic compounds. |
| Solubility in water | They generally do not dissolve in water. | They generally dissolve in water. |
| Solubility in organic solvents | They dissolve in organic solvents like alcohol, benzene and chloroform. | All inorganic compounds do not dissolve in organic solvents. |
| Melting and boiling point | They have low m.p. and b.p. and easily decompose on heating. | They have high m.p. and b.p. and usually do not decompose on heating. |
| Bonding | They form covalent bonds. | Most of them form ionic bonds. |
Classification of organic compounds:
| Aliphatic : Open chain compounds | Cyclic : Closed chain compounds |
|---|---|
| Hydrocarbons [compounds containing C & H only] | Homocyclic - [only C atoms] e.g., Aromatic compounds: Benzene |
| (a) Saturated - Alkanes e.g., Ethane | Heterocyclic [C,O,N,S atoms] e.g., Aromatic compounds - Pyridine |
| (b) Unsaturated - Alkenes e.g., Ethene, Alkynes e.g., Ethyne |
Related Questions
Explain the term 'Homologous series'. State the general characteristics of members of the series with special reference to molecular mass or molecular formula.
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(a) 'Tetravalency' — of carbon
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Differentiate between — 'Molecular formula' and 'Structural formula' — of an organic compound. Write the 'condensed structural formula' and 'branched structural formula' of ethene.