Distinguishing Organic Compound From Organic Molecule

The terms organic compound and organic molecule are often used interchangeably, but they have subtle differences in their definitions, scope, and application. This article aims to clarify these differences and help you understand the nuances between the two.

Definition and Examples

Organic Compound: An organic compound is a chemical compound that contains carbon atoms, typically bonded with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements. These compounds are often associated with living organisms and include a vast range of substances like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Examples: Glucose (C6H12O6), ethanol (C2H5OH), and benzene (C6H6) are all organic compounds.

Organic Molecule: This term specifically refers to any molecule that contains carbon atoms. It is a broader category than the term compound, and any organic compound that is not in the form of an element is considered an organic molecule.

Examples: The same substances mentioned above (glucose, ethanol, and benzene) can also be referred to as organic molecules.

Key Differences

Scope

All organic molecules are organic compounds, but not all organic compounds are molecules. Some organic compounds may exist in other forms such as polymers, solids, or gases, depending on their state.

Example: Acetylene (C2H2) is a molecule, but when three acetylene molecules condense, they form benzene (C6H6), which is a compound. Similarly, two benzene molecules can combine to form biphenyl (C12H10), which is also a compound.

Context

Organic Molecule: A molecule is a single unit of a compound that consists of atoms bonded together. It indicates the smallest unit of a substance that can exist while retaining the chemical properties of the substance.

Organic Compound: A compound is a substance consisting of two or more different elements bonded together. It can be a single molecule or a combination of molecules.

Examples

Element: These are substances consisting of only one type of atom, such as chlorine (Cl2), hydrogen (H2), and sulfur (S8).

Compounds: These are substances that consist of unlike atoms bonded together, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and silicon dioxide (SiO2).

Are Organic Compounds the Same as Organic Molecules?

No, they are not exactly the same. However, the term compound in organic chemistry typically refers to a molecule, but it can also refer to a combination of molecules. For example, a single molecule of acetylene (C2H2) is an organic molecule, whereas three acetylene molecules condensing to form benzene (C6H6) is a compound.

Explanation: Compound simply means composed of two or more things. In chemistry, a compound is a substance that is made up of two or more different elements bonded together, such as water (H2O), table salt (NaCl), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and chlorophyll (C55H72O5N4Mg).

On the other hand, nitrogen gas (N2) and buckminsterfullerene (C60) are not compounds because they only contain one type of element. Nitrogen gas contains only nitrogen, and buckminsterfullerene contains only carbon.

Conclusion: In summary, while the terms organic compound and organic molecule are related, they differ in their specific meanings and applications. Organic molecules are a type of organic compound, but organic compounds can exist in forms other than molecules.