Inorganic vs. Organic?

Question

What is the difference between an inorganic mineral source and an organic mineral source?

Answer 1

The two terms can mean different things to different depending on what your talking about

To a chemist Organic means it contains carbon, so if you have a nutrient, such as N,K,P bound to carbon a chemist would say its organic, however Rock phosphate does not contain carbon would not be considered or organic to a Chemist. Now consider gasoline, It contains carbon, so is considered organic to the CHEMIST...  Now in agriculture the two terms mean something different a organic farmer would not consider gasoline to be organic, and would never but it on his garden. He would however use rock phosphate, or granite dust to supply phosphorus and potassium to his soil, and although, it does not contain carbon (at least not much) it would still be considered organic farming.

so to a farmer organic means supplying the soil and plants nutrients through natural occurring compounds in the soil, or from recently decayed plant or animal matter

Answer 2

Inorganic would be sulphur, organic would be fertilizer, like compost.

Answer 3

organic is natural minerals (non-man made or non-chemical) inorganic(man made with supplements and hormones.

Answer 4

I think that what you are asking is reflected in the product and a comparison of them. Organic sources of minerals would be mined minerals with a limited processing that is just  physical in nature, as in crushing and sifting and bagging. The products are not of the highest purity and contain naturally a great deal of other materials as is commonly found in nature. Inorganic minerals are far more processed and purified using a fair amount of chemistry and energy with the intent to purify and concentrate. Those products do not have the benefit of the naturally occurring intermediate materials and trace elements that nature has bases millions of years of evolution on. Those inorganic materials frequently shortcut natural processes and affect the localized plant environment negatively by rapidly and forcefully changing that environment, upsetting important balances for short term gain.

Answer 5

There are some where the minerals are taken up better by people or plants. An example is Calcium in people. Pure ground up oyster shells get absorbed at about 5% per pill. Organically bound calcium, like the stuff added to orange juice, gets taken up at about 25%.

Also, in agriculture, you need to worry about whether your mineral additives are washing away, or stay bound in place until some plant uses them. Inorganics are cheaper per pound, but used correctly, organics may be more effective per dollar.

Answer 6

Is a bridge organic?

After all it comes from steel (Iron and Carbon), both of which are obtained from the earth. It also comes from concrete

( limestone, etc). - from the earth.

Is a bridge organic? - Good Question!

Anyway most minerals, as defined, are inorganic, being they don't have carbon as building blocks of the molecule.

Hope this helps.

Most minerals as correctly defined, are inorganic.

Anyway you might want to try link:

http://www.parentsofallergicchildren.org...

Answer 7

organic mineral sources are manure and compost and the natural humus in the ground, where the elements required by the plants are mainly in organic compositions.

The inorganic minerals are simpler molecule products of an industrial process, super-phosphate Ca(H2PO4)2, ammonium nitrate (NH4)NO3 and the like; their advantage is that they may be supplied in large quantities and low price.

If this industrial products were not in use, large areas could not be cultivated at all, or would yield low crops. Hence there will be less food supply, food will be more expensive, and life of people will be much worse.

Answer 8

The minerals themselves are inorganic no matter what source they come from. The difference in agriculture, which you correctly state, is the source that minerals come from, when you are talking about organic agriculture. For example Nitrogen supplied as anhydrous ammonium would be considered an inorganic source, where when applied in barnyard manure would be considered an organic source of Nitrogen.  The same thing for all of the minerals apply. Minerals applied from organic sources such as compost, plant residue, manure, etc are from an organic source. Chemical fertilizers such as 10-10-10 N-P2O5-K2O is an inorganic source.

Answer 9

The problem with organic is it's defination is vague and you really can't be sure what you are buying and what it has all been exposed to.  The only real way to be sure what you are eating is to grow it yourself!

Answer 10

Organtic: Has been grown in the soil

Inorgantic: Usually made in factories, or has added gross stuff like glucose to it!! Hope i've helped you! :)