organic compound

In chemistry, a compound that contains carbon, with the exception of a few simple carbon compounds that do not have any of the functional groups typical of organic chemistry. Thus, carbon dioxide (CO2), all carbonates, carbon sulphide, cyanides, and carbides count as inorganic compounds.

The original distinction between organic and inorganic compounds was based on the belief that the molecules of living systems were unique, and could not be synthesized in the laboratory. Today it is routine to manufacture thousands of organic chemicals both in research and in the drug industry.