how to tell if compound organic or inorganic for ex, CaCo3

Question

joannablackwelder · Answer

That's a little tricky sometimes. This example is a carbonate since it has a CO3 2- polyatomic ion, and all carbonates are inorganic.

anonymous · Answer

so how should i do many more of these

anonymous · Answer

like KCN

joannablackwelder · Answer

Well, if it is an ionic molecule, it is always inorganic.

joannablackwelder · Answer

If it has carbon-carbon bonds, then that means it is organic.

anonymous · Answer

like what is C12H12H11

joannablackwelder · Answer

Do you mean C12H12O11?

anonymous · Answer

C12H22O11

joannablackwelder · Answer

When you have more than 1 carbon in a molecule, it is almost always organic.

joannablackwelder · Answer

Organic

anonymous · Answer

how do i learn all these rules?

joannablackwelder · Answer

It's not that many rules really. If the compound is ionic, it is inorganic. If it has carbon in it and is covalent (especially if it has multiple carbons in it), it is probably organic.

joannablackwelder · Answer

Does that summary help?

anonymous · Answer

i am going to do more problems and see , thanks !

joannablackwelder · Answer

No worries. :)

abb0t · Answer

Let me just clarify this: to be considered "organic" it must contain predominantly carbon $\sf \color{red}{and}$ hydrogen. By definition, a carbon that is bonded to a hydrogen, but also bonded to other elements like nitrogen or oxygen, are still classified as organic. That means something like methane - CH$_4$ would be $\sf \color{green}{organic}$ as it consists of both carbon and hydrogen. Similarly, HCO$_3$$^-$ would be considered organic, because it $is$ bonded to a hydrogen. 


On the other hand, carbon dioxide - CO$_2$ would be $\sf \color{blue}{inorganic}$. Although you have carbon, you're missing hydrogen. MoCl$_5$, or molybdenum(V) chloride, also would be considered inorganic since it is missing both carbon and hydrgoen.

anonymous · Answer

oh okey thanks

anonymous · Answer

what about CCl4 what is that ?? their is no C and H together so is it inorganic?

joannablackwelder · Answer

Like I said earlier, these can be tricky. CCl4 is organic. See http://science.marshall.edu/castella/chm204/chap11.pdf on page 2.

anonymous · Answer

so like these ones i should just memorize

joannablackwelder · Answer

Yup.

abb0t · Answer

BUT, by definition, it is INORGANIC.

triciaal · Answer

In general  if it is a Carbon compound  it is organic 
it it involves ionic exchange its inorganic

abb0t · Answer

@Jhannybean