Why is carbon dioxide an inorganic compund???

Question

weird...since it contains carbon

Answer 1

CO2 have no Hydrogens.
An organic compounds have to contain at least C and H


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_compounds

Answer 2

This question has been answered (see below), but if you want a quick recap or more details, consider this:

Who told you that Carbon dioxide was an Inorganic compound? Looking at some of the other answers to your question, many people believe that this is true. This does not make the answer Real, just widely believed.

In the real world, most humans who spend their life studying the chemical compound called Carbon dioxide (and Carbon monoxide, as well), are chemists who have a background in Inorganic chemistry, not Organic chemistry. The boundaries between these two field of research, however, is fuzzy. There are no cut and dry, yes or no, limits to these fields. Different experts could give you arguments for either answer.

The original titles of Organic and Inorganic chemistry is of historical significance. It was once believed that substances were or were not associated with life and a special vital force.

If you received this information from an instructor or a text book, then all the statement means is that the detailed study of Carbon dioxide will or will not be covered in the materials. Nothing more.

Answer 3

carbon dioxide is not an organic compound not because it has no hydrogens but instead because it does not behave like any particular class of organic compounds(such as alkanes or alcohols,etc)hence since it cannot be put into any such homologous series it is much more convenient to just include it as an inorganic compound.
by the way water can't be organic because it has no carbon.the most important criterion for an organic compound is carbon.

Answer 4

Carbon forms many millions of compounds, Two compounds, formed by the bonding of carbon atoms with oxygen atoms, are of particular significance, when it comes to organic science. CO2 and Carbon Monoxide (CO)

In carbon dioxide, a single carbon joins with two oxygen's to produce a gas essential to plant life. In carbon monoxide (CO), a single oxygen joins the carbon, creating a toxic—but nonetheless important—compound.

The first gas to be distinguished from ordinary air, carbon dioxide is an essential component in the natural balance between plant and animal life. Animals, including humans, produce carbon dioxide by breathing, and humans further produce it by burning wood and other fuels. Plants use carbon dioxide when they store energy in the form of food, and they release oxygen to be used by animals.

Following this logic it would be obvious to assume that C02 is an organic compound, however due to the fact that it only posses one (1) carbon atom it is not strictly organic.

Answer 5

Organic Chemistry is the chemistry of Carbon, hydrogen, and other heteroatoms. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are both not organic because neither have any hydrogen in them. This is the fundamental definition of organic chemistry.

By the way the above answer claiming water is an organic compound is also incorrect.

Answer 6

The previous answer is incorrect. An organic compound does not have to contain carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Methane gas, CH4, contains no oxygen and is an organic compound. Nor does it have to contain carbon. H2O can be classified as an organic compound. In that manner, carbon dioxide can be dealt with and considered an organic compound with each oxygen connected to the carbon by double bonds.

Answer 7

That is the problem with artificial definitions like "organic" and "inorganic".

Sometimes they just add confusion rather than clarity.

Answer 8

carbon is organic and organic, with the aid of fact it is composed of carbon, and water isn't organic and organic with the aid of fact it would not incorporate carbon. -organic and organic Chemistry-The learn of chemical ingredients that incorporate carbon -Inorganic Chemistry-The learn of chemical ingredients that don't incorporate carbon.