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A lot of "organic" molecules are created spontaneously by inorganic reactions. Most of these molecules are important to living organism (and they (we) create more of these molecules on purpose, faster and more efficiently).

For example, many of the molecules that were found in the space near stars are "organic". (In this list, most of the molecules with 4 or more atom are "organic".) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_interstellar_and_circum...




Slight correction and/or distinction here: organic molecules are formed by organic reactions. Organic does not imply biological, merely carbon chemistry. Addition, substitution, Diels-Alder, etc. etc. There is nothing special going on here, it's just how we organize and typify common themes and patterns.

Organic has a precise meaning to the chemist. See my other reply in the grandparent thread for further elaboration.




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