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Organic Compounds

Last updated: February 1, 2017

What Does Organic Compounds Mean?

Organic compounds include a wide spectrum of chemical compounds, and most chemical compounds that contain carbon are considered to be organic compounds. There are, however, few exceptions that contain carbon atoms, but are not considered to be organic. These exceptions include carbides, carbonates and cyanides.

Safeopedia Explains Organic Compounds

As long as there is an atom or more of carbon in a chemical compound, it is usually considered to be organic. Organic compounds are studied in organic chemistry and are termed organic because they involve the chemistry of living things. Organic compounds are required to have carbon in them because all living things on earth are carbon-based life forms and carbon is one of the basic atoms in living creatures.

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