stupid question - difference between organic molecule and organic compound?

[forchina]

Hi, sorry this may seem like a really stupid question but what is the difference between organic molecule and organic compound? The text book seems to use it interchangebly but sometimes I get confused between the two. Can somewhere care to explain me what the difference is?

[saheh]

Simply put: organic contains carbon

[pi]

This is a pretty dodgy question, as there are different definitions depending on what book you look at.

I'd tend to agree with this:

Simply put: organic contains carbon

But some say that "organic molecules" are defined by having one or more C-H bonds or having one or more C-C bonds (both with specific exceptions).

It's not something you should be asked on an exam.

[forchina]

Okay thanks. This question has been bothering me for a while.


Quick question - so could i use them interchangebly in an exam?

[LOLs99]

They assume u knew it , so they won't appear on the exam.
Organic molecules- complex carbon containing, can't put organic contains carbon because CO2 is an inorganic molecule( but contain carbon in a simple form)

 BTW no question is stupid ! If u ask a question, it means you wanna be smart, so why is it a stupid question

[pi]

Quick question - so could i use them interchangebly in an exam?

Organic and inorganic? If so, no, they are different despite the definitional issues)

[Shenz0r]

Organic molecules generally contain Carbon and Hydrogen.

Inorganic molecules are generally your metals (such as Na+, K+, Cl-, and all that jazz), but water is also considered an inorganic molecule by some (as it lacks carbon), as well as CO2, which lacks hydrogen.