Is adenine an organic or a chemical molecule?

I wrote the book ‘Who reads our DNA’. But whether this substance is chemical or organic I do not know. I am getting conflicting messages.

Asker: March, age 77

Answer

Best,

All molecules are chemical in nature.
Adenine consists of the atoms C, H and N: carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. These are linked to covalent bonds in a well-defined structure (see link).
The distinction between a chemical and an organic substance is made by looking at the atoms used in the molecules. Organic chemistry mainly deals with molecules made with carbon (hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen) and can be seen as a separate branch of chemistry. Inorganic chemistry deals with all molecules that can be formed with the different elements (see Mendeleev’s table).
Is adenine an organic or a chemical molecule?

Answered by

Dr Stefan Vermeulen

Biotechnology, Genetics, Accreditation, Biochemistry, Chemistry

HighSchool Gent
Jozef Kluyskensstraat 2 B-9000 Ghent
http://www.hogent.be/

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