Organic
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Aziraphale (talk | contribs) at 18:08, August 1, 2007. It may differ significantly from current revision.
Organic is a word that has many definitions, depending on the context. It is a term primarily used within biology, chemistry, and environmentalism. Its opposite is inorganic.
Biology
In biology, the term organic means anything made of or derived from living organisms.
Chemistry
In chemistry, the term organic is aplied to any compound containing carbon. Chemistry is split into two general categories: organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry.
Environmentalism
Within the environmentalist or healthy food movements, organic refers to any food grown without man-made chemicals or pesticides. The USDA certifies foods as organic, but some farmers also produce uncertified food.
References
- Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary. Organic.