Why is carbon dioxide considered inorganic if it has carbon as part of its chemical make-up?

smartie806

Carbon dioxide is just a gas, and there are other requirements for organic life: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_life Aug 30 06, 7:47 PM

ceetee

It goes back to the old demarcation dispute between what was thought to be inorganic vs organic. Any compound that came from a living organism was considered "organic" because it possessed "vitalism" (ie it needed a living body in order to make it), whereas any substance derived from mineral or inanimate sources was inorganic. This nice distinction began to falter when Wohler synthesised urea from potassium cyanate and ammonium chloride, but its shades still linger. As carbon dioxide can be derived from mineral sources (as well as living creatures) one assumes that is why it isn't usually tagged with the organic monniker (although clearly it could comfortably reside in both camps) Aug 30 06, 7:52 PM

satguru

Don't organic compounds need hydrogen and carbon? Otherwise you could say a diamond was organic... Aug 30 06, 8:53 PM

elburcher

An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon and hydrogen; therefore, carbides, carbonates, carbon oxides and elementary carbon are not organic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_compounds Aug 30 06, 10:22 PM

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In order for a substance to be considered organic, does it need both carbon and hydrogen in its chemical make-up or just carbon? What is the formula for carbon dioxide? Which is the heavier gas, carbon dioxide or oxygen? Why isn't there a liquid form to carbon dioxide?

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