Every science is full of concepts, and if these concepts are not mastered, or indirect topics can be very difficult to learn. One of the concepts that should be well understood by every person who considers himself more or less educated is the division of materials into organic and inorganic. It doesn’t matter how old a person is, these concepts are on the list of those with the help of which they determine the general level of development at any stage of human life. In order to understand the differences between these two terms, you first need to find out what each of them is.

Organic compounds - what are they?

Organic substances are a group of chemical compounds with a heterogeneous structure, which include carbon elements, covalently linked to each other. The exceptions are carbides, coal, and carboxylic acids. Also, one of the constituent substances, in addition to carbon, are the elements of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and halogen.

Such compounds are formed due to the ability of carbon atoms to form single, double and triple bonds.

The habitat of organic compounds is living beings. They can be either part of living beings or appear as a result of their vital activities (milk, sugar).

The products of the synthesis of organic substances are food, medicine, clothing items, building materials, various equipment, explosives, various types of mineral fertilizers, polymers, food additives, cosmetics and more.

Inorganic substances - what are they?

Inorganic substances are a group of chemical compounds that do not contain the elements carbon, hydrogen or chemical compounds whose constituent element is carbon. Both organic and inorganic are components of cells. The first in the form of life-giving elements, others in the composition of water, minerals and acids, as well as gases.

What do organic and inorganic substances have in common?

What could be common between two seemingly antonymous concepts? It turns out that they have something in common, namely:

Substances of both organic and inorganic origin are composed of molecules.
Organic and inorganic substances can be obtained as a result of a certain chemical reaction.

Organic and inorganic substances - what is the difference

Organic ones are better known and studied scientifically.
There are much more organic substances in the world. The number of organic ones known to science is about a million, inorganic – hundreds of thousands.
Most organic compounds are linked to each other using the covalent nature of the compound; inorganic compounds can be linked to each other using an ionic compound.
There is also a difference in the composition of the incoming elements. Organic substances consist of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and less commonly nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and halogen elements. Inorganic - consist of all elements of the periodic table, except carbon and hydrogen.
Organic substances are much more susceptible to the influence of hot temperatures and can be destroyed even at low temperatures. Most inorganic ones are less prone to the effects of extreme heat due to the nature of the type of molecular compound.
Organic substances are the constituent elements of the living part of the world (biosphere), inorganic substances are the nonliving parts (hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere).
The composition of organic substances is more complex in structure than the composition of inorganic substances.
Organic substances are distinguished by a wide variety of possibilities for chemical transformations and reactions.
Due to the covalent type of bond between organic compounds, chemical reactions last slightly longer than chemical reactions in inorganic compounds.
Inorganic substances cannot be a food product for living beings; even moreover, some of this type of combination can be deadly to a living organism. Organic substances are a product produced by living nature, as well as an element of the structure of living organisms.

Human organism- an open biological system. The human body is a multi-level system. It consists of organ systems, each organ system is made up of organs, each organ is made up of tissues, and tissues are made up of cells. Each cell is a system of interconnected organelles.

The human body is an open system that constantly exchanges substances and energy with the environment. From it, oxygen enters the body during gas exchange, and along with food, water and nutrients. To the outside, the body removes carbon dioxide, undigested food debris, urine, sweat, and secretions from the sebaceous glands.

Externally, the body receives thermal energy and nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates), the molecules of which accumulate chemical energy. It is released during the breakdown of these substances in the body. Part of the chemical energy is spent on the process of its life activity, and the excess in the form of heat is returned to the external environment.

Inorganic substances

Among all inorganic substances, the water content in the human body is the highest. It makes up up to 90% of the mass of an embryo and up to 70% of the body mass of an elderly person. Water is a solvent that provides transport of substances in the body. Substances dissolved in water acquire the ability to interact. Water also participates in heat exchange processes between the body and the environment.

The human body contains many inorganic substances. Some of them are present in the form of molecules, such as calcium compounds in bones, substances in the form of ions. Thus, iron ions are involved in the transport of oxygen in the blood, calcium ions are necessary for muscle contraction, and potassium and sodium ions are necessary for the formation and transmission of nerve impulses.

Organic matter

The molecules of many organic substances are made up of blocks - simple organic molecules. All proteins have this structure. They are formed from amino acid molecules. Typically, a chain of amino acids folds into fibrous or club-like structures. This way the protein molecule becomes more compact and takes up less space in the cell.

Every process that occurs in the body involves dozens or even hundreds of different proteins. The proportion of proteins is more than 50% of the dry mass of cells. Some proteins are the building material of cells, others work during muscle contraction, and others protect the body from infections. Almost all chemical reactions in the body occur with the help of enzymes - protein catalysts.

Complex carbohydrates

Like proteins, complex carbohydrates are formed from block molecules. Thus, the blocks of glycogen are molecules of simple carbohydrates - glucose. Glucose in the body plays the role of a source of energy, and glucose reserves are created in the form of glycogen. In combination with proteins and other organic substances, carbohydrates perform a structural function.

Fats

Fats- organic substances insoluble in water. The fat molecule usually contains molecules of glycerol and fatty acids. Fats form the plasma membranes of cells; they accumulate in the cells of adipose tissue, which performs protective functions in the body. Just like glucose, fats are a source of energy. A fat molecule stores more energy than a glucose molecule, but the cell takes much longer to extract energy from fats than from carbohydrates.

Excretory functions are carried out by the gastrointestinal tract; external respiratory organs; sweat, sebaceous, lacrimal, mammary and other glands, as well as kidneys (Fig. 1.14), with the help of which decay products are removed from the body.

Rice. 1.14.

An important organ of the excretory system is the kidneys, which are directly involved in the regulation of water and mineral metabolism, ensure acid-base balance (balance) in the body, and form biologically active substances, such as renin, which affects blood pressure levels.

Chemical structure of the human body

The human body contains organic and inorganic substances. Water makes up 60% of body weight, and minerals average 4%. Organic substances are represented mainly by proteins (18%), fats (15%), carbohydrates (2-3%). All substances of the body, as well as inanimate nature, are built from atoms of various chemical elements.

Of the 110 known chemical elements, the human body contains mainly 24 (Table 1.2). Depending on their quantity in the body, chemical elements are divided into basic, macro-, micro- and ultramicroelements.

Note that individual chemical elements accumulate unevenly in various organs and tissues of the human body. For example, bone tissue accumulates calcium and phosphorus, blood - iron, thyroid gland - iodine, liver - copper, skin - strontium, etc.

The quantitative and qualitative composition of the chemical elements of the body depends both on external environmental factors (nutrition, ecology, etc.) and on the functions of individual organs.

Macronutrients and their importance in the body is determined by the fact that they are necessary for the implementation of many biological

Table 1.2

Chemical elements that make up the human body

(according to N.I. Volkov)

	Chemical element
Basic	Oxygen (O)	Total 99.9%
elements	Carbon (C)
	Hydrogen (H) Nitrogen (N)
Macronutrients	Calcium (Ca)
	Phosphorus (P)



	Sodium (Na)
	Magnesium (Mg)
Micro and ultra
microelements	Fluorine (F) Silicon (Si) Vanadium (V) Chromium (Cr) Manganese (Mn) Iron (Fe) Cobalt (Co) Copper (Cu) Zinc (Zn) Selenium (Se)
	Molybdenum (Mo) Iodine (J)

chemical processes. They are essential nutritional factors, as they are not produced in the body. The mineral content is relatively low (4-10% of dry body weight) and depends on the functional state of the body, its age, nutritional status and environmental conditions.

Calcium in the human body makes up 40% of the total amount of all minerals. It is part of teeth and bones, giving them strength. A decrease in the flow of calcium into the body’s tissues leads to its release from the bones, which causes a decrease in their strength (osteoporosis), as well as dysfunction of the nervous system, blood circulation, including muscle activity.

Phosphorus makes up 22% of the amount of all minerals. About 80% of its amount is found in tissues in the form of calcium phosphate. Phosphorus plays an important role in the processes of energy formation, since in the form of phosphoric acid residues it is included in the composition of energy sources - ATP, ADP, CrP, various nucleotides, as well as in the composition of hydrogen carriers and some metabolic products.

Sodium and potassium found in all tissues and fluids of the body. Potassium is predominantly inside cells, sodium - in the extracellular space. Both are involved in the conduction of nerve impulses, tissue stimulation, creation of osmotic blood pressure (osmotic active ions), maintaining acid-base balance, and also affect the activity of the enzymes Naf, Kf, ATPase. These elements regulate water exchange in the body: sodium ions retain water in tissues and cause swelling of proteins (formation of colloids), which leads to edema; Potassium ions, on the contrary, enhance the excretion of sodium and water from the body. Insufficiency of sodium and potassium in the body causes disruption of the central nervous system, muscle contractile apparatus, cardiovascular and digestive systems, which leads to a decrease in physical performance.

Magnesium in the tissues of the body is in a certain ratio with calcium. It affects energy metabolism, protein synthesis, since it is an activator of many enzymes, which are called kinases and perform the function of transferring a phosphate group from an ATP molecule to various substrates. Magnesium also affects muscle excitability and helps remove cholesterol from the body.

Its deficiency leads to increased neuromuscular excitability, the appearance of cramps and muscle weakness.

Chlorine refers to osmotic active substances and is involved in the regulation of osmotic pressure and water metabolism of body cells, used for the formation of hydrochloric acid (HC1) - an essential component of gastric juice. Lack of chlorine in the body can lead to a decrease in blood pressure, contributes to myocardial infarction, and causes fatigue, irritability, and drowsiness.

Micro- and ultra-microelements. Iron plays a very important role in the processes of aerobic energy formation in the body. It is part of the proteins hemoglobin and myoglobin, which transport 0 2 and CO 2 in the body, as well as cytochromes - components of the respiratory chain in which the processes of biological oxidation and formation of LTP occur. Iron deficiency in the body leads to impaired formation of hemoglobin and a decrease in its concentration in the blood. This can lead to the development of iron deficiency anemia, a decrease in the oxygen capacity of the blood and a sharp decrease in physical performance.

Zinc is part of many energy metabolism enzymes, as well as carbonic anhydrase enzymes, which catalyze the exchange of H 2 CO 3 and lactate dehydrogenase, which regulate the oxidative breakdown of lactic acid. It participates in the creation of the active structure of the insulin protein - the pancreatic hormone, and enhances the effect of pituitary (gonadotropic) and gonadal hormones (testosterone, estrogen) on the processes of protein synthesis. Zinc deficiency can lead to weakened immunity, loss of appetite, and slower growth processes.

Copper promotes body growth, enhances hematopoietic processes, affects the rate of glucose oxidation and glycogen breakdown. It is part of the enzymes of the respiratory chain, increases the activity of lipase, pepsin and other enzymes.

Manganese, cobalt, chromium are used by the body as activators of many enzymes that take part in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, cholesterol synthesis, affect hematopoietic processes, and increase the body's defenses. Chromium also enhances protein synthesis, exhibiting an anabolic effect. Manganese is involved in the synthesis of vitamin C, which is very important for athletes.

Iodine necessary for the construction of thyroid hormones - thyroxine and its derivatives. Its deficiency in the body leads to diseases of the thyroid gland (endemic goiter): 150 mcg satisfies the body's daily need for iodine.

Fluorine is part of tooth enamel and dentin. Its excess suppresses the processes of tissue respiration and fatty acid oxidation. Insufficient fluoride causes dental disease (caries), and excess causes enamel staining (fluorosis).

Selenium has an antioxidant effect, i.e. protects cells from excessive lipid peroxidation, which leads to the accumulation of harmful hydrogen peroxides in tissues. The latest research suggests that selenium strengthens the immune system and prevents the occurrence of cancer cells, and is involved in the transfer of genetic information.

Inorganic substances in the human body

Minerals play an important role in the human body. Minerals actively participate in all biochemical and intercellular processes occurring within us.

The periodic table of elements (Mendeleev's table) currently contains almost 120 chemical elements. More than 80 elements have been found in the human body. Of these, a person needs about 20 macro- and microelements for normal life.

Essential elements. Vital (essential) microelements have an effect on the human body indirectly, controlling the vital activity of hormones, enzymes, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and other biologically active substances. This management occurs by maintaining their certain ratio and concentration in the body.

Macronutrients:

A) Organogenic elements

H, O, C, N - 98%

+S,P- bioelements form organic compounds.

b) K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cl- about 2%

P, Ca– formation of bone tissue, bone strength.

Sa. After 4 main elements it ranks fifth. In an adult, up to 700 mg of calcium is removed from bone tissue per day and the same amount is deposited again. Consequently, bone tissue, in addition to its supporting function, plays the role of a depot of calcium and phosphorus, from where the body extracts them when there is a lack of dietary intake.

Ca- ensures blood clotting.

K, Na, Cl– permeability of cell membranes, conduction of nerve impulses.

Fe- is part of hemoglobin.

Mg- is part of chlorophyll in plants and enzymes in animals.

Microelements– content about 0.02%

Zn is part of insulin - a hormone of the pancreas, enhances the activity of the gonads.

Cu ensures tissue growth and is part of enzymes.

I is part of thyroxine, a thyroid hormone.

Zn is part of insulin, a pancreatic hormone.

F is part of the enamel of teeth.

Co part of vitamin B 12 (cobalamin)

Mn ensures metabolism.

B responsible for the growth process.

Mo responsible for the use of iron and the retention of fluoride in the body.

Flaw macro- and microelements leads to various diseases. And to prevent them, you need to eat certain foods. A deficiency or excess in the body of any of these elements entails serious changes in its functioning and can often lead to serious complications. Therefore, for the normal functioning of the body, a certain balance of minerals must be maintained.

The most common shortages in Ukraine are iodine, zinc, selenium, magnesium, manganese and copper. In addition, in women during pregnancy and in children during periods of strong growth, there is often a deficiency in the body gland.

If there is a shortage calcium osteoporosis develops (softness, porosity of bones), slowing down of skeletal growth. It is necessary to consume dairy products.
If there is a shortage magnesium muscle cramps, loss of body fluids. Products: vegetables, beans, nuts, milk, fruits.
If there is a shortage chlorine- dry skin. Ingredients: water, table salt.
If there is a shortage sodium– headache, poor memory, loss of appetite. Products: tomatoes, apricots, peas, table salt.
If there is a shortage potassium– arrhythmia of heart contractions, sudden death with increasing loads. Products – bananas, dried fruits, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini.
Phosphorus– external signs of deficiency are unknown. Contained in fish, dairy products, walnuts, buckwheat.
If there is a shortage gland anemia develops. It is necessary to eat liver, meat, green leaves of vegetables.
If there is a shortage fluorine a – tooth decay. Products - fish, water.
If there is a shortage zinc– skin damage. Products – meat, seafood.
If there is a shortage iodine goiter develops. It is necessary to eat persimmons, seafood, and iodized salt.
If there is a shortage copper– cancer, liver dysfunction. Products – liver, egg yolk, whole grains.
With a lack of cobalt, pernicious anemia develops. Products - liver, animal proteins.

In addition to water, among the inorganic substances that make up the cell, salts, which are ionic compounds, should be mentioned. In an aqueous solution, they dissociate to form a metal cation and an acid residue anion.
Cells are most important for life processes
Cations: K, Na, Ca, Mg.
Anions: H2PO4, Cl, HCO3.
The concentration of ions on the outer surface of the cell is different from their concentration on the inner surface. The outer surface of the cell membrane has a very high concentration of sodium ions, and the inner surface has a high concentration of potassium ions. As a result, a potential difference is formed between the inner and outer surfaces of the cell membrane, which causes the transmission of excitation along a nerve or muscle.
Calcium and magnesium ions are activators of many enzymes.
Its buffering properties depend on the concentration of salts inside the cell.
Buffering is the ability of a cell to maintain a slightly alkaline reaction at a constant level. Buffering inside the cell is provided by anions H 2 P.O. 4 And NRO 4 .
In extracellular fluid and blood they play the role of a buffer N 2 CO 3 And NSO 3 .
Anions of weak acids and weak alkalis bind hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions, due to which the reaction inside the cell does not change.
Hydrochloric acid creates an acidic environment in the stomach, speeding up the digestion of food proteins.
Calcium and phosphorus ions are found in bone tissue.
Mineral salts enter the body's cells from the external environment. Excess salts along with water are excreted from the body into the external environment.

To the question of substance. what are organic substances and inorganic... the human body consists of what substances? given by the author LEV RYKOV the best answer is Organic substances, organic compounds - a class of compounds that contain carbon (with the exception of carbides, carbonic acid, carbonates, carbon oxides and cyanides). Organic compounds are usually made up of chains of carbon atoms linked together by covalent bonds and various substituents attached to these carbon atoms
An inorganic substance or inorganic compound is a chemical substance, a chemical compound that is not organic, that is, it does not contain carbon (except for carbides, cyanides, carbonates, carbon oxides and some other compounds that are traditionally classified as inorganic). Inorganic compounds do not have the carbon skeleton characteristic of organic compounds.
The human body contains both substances. I already wrote in previous answers to your questions that the main inorganic substances contained in the human body are water and calcium salts (the latter mainly makes up the human skeleton).
Organic compounds are mainly proteins, fats and carbohydrates, in addition, there are complex compounds that act as an intermediate link (for example, hemoglobin - a complex of iron with organic ligands)

Answer from Kirsimarja[guru]
organic substances are compounds of carbon with other elements
inorganic, to put it simply, is what is contained in the periodic table.
The human body contains absolutely all substances, both organic and inorganic

Answer from Helen[guru]
The human body consists of 60% water, 34% organic matter and 6% inorganic matter. The main components of organic substances are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, they also include nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. In the inorganic substances of the human body, 22 chemical elements are necessarily present: Ca, P, O, Na, Mg, S, B, C1, K, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cr, Si, I ,F,Se. For example, if a person weighs 70 kg, then it contains (in grams): calcium - 1700, potassium - 250, sodium - 70, magnesium - 42, iron - 5, zinc - 3. Living organisms contain various chemicals elements. Conventionally, depending on the concentration of chemical elements in the body, macro- and microelements are distinguished.
Macroelements are considered to be those chemical elements whose content in the body is more than 0.005% of body weight. Macroelements include hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, potassium, calcium.
Microelements are chemical elements found in the body in very small quantities. Their content does not exceed 0.005% of body weight, and the concentration in tissues does not exceed 0.000001%. Among all microelements, the so-called essential microelements are classified into a special group.
Essential microelements are microelements, the regular intake of which with food or water into the body is absolutely necessary for its normal functioning. Essential microelements are part of enzymes, vitamins, hormones and other biologically active substances. Essential microelements are iron, iodine, copper, manganese, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum, selenium, chromium, fluorine.
The role of macroelements that make up inorganic substances is obvious. For example, the main amount of calcium and phosphorus enters the bones (calcium hydroxyphosphate Ca10(PO4)6(OH) 2), and chlorine in the form of hydrochloric acid is contained in gastric juice.
Microelements are included in the above-mentioned series of 22 elements that are necessarily present in the human body. Note that most of them are metals, and of the metals, more than half are d-elements. The latter form coordination compounds in the body with complex organic molecules.
Characteristic symptoms of deficiency of chemical elements in the human body
Ca Growth slowdown
Mg Muscle cramps
Fe Anemia, immune system disorder
Zn Skin damage, growth retardation, sexual maturation delay
Cu Arterial weakness, liver dysfunction, secondary anemia
Mn Infertility, impaired skeletal growth
Mo Slow cell growth, caries susceptibility
Co Pernicious anemia
Ni Increased incidence of depression, dermatitis
Cr Diabetes symptoms
Si Skeletal growth disorder
F Dental caries
I Thyroid dysfunction, slow metabolism
Se Muscular (particularly cardiac) weakness

Answer from Bogdan Bondarenko[newbie]
name any substances

Answer from Egor Shazam[newbie]