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Organic and inorganic substances are the basis of chemistry. However, there is a difference between substances that are organic and ones that are inorganic — but do you know what that means? In this next activity, you will take a closer look at organic and inorganic substances that are essential to life.

Two types of substances are essential for life:

organic compounds — those that contain carbon
inorganic compounds — those that do not contain carbon

Inorganic compounds do not originate from living organisms, but instead, they are obtained from Earth's resources. Six of the most common inorganic compounds needed by both plants and humans to live are the following:

1. nitrogen (N) — essential for growth and reproduction in both plants and animals
2. sulfur (S) — makes up important amino acids used to create protein for cells and tissues and for hormones, enzymes, and antibodies
3. phosphorus (P) — needed for filtering your body of waste and repairing tissues and cells
4. calcium (Ca) — needed for blood clotting and is an essential material for keeping bones healthy
5. potassium (K) — crucial for heart functioning
6. magnesium (Mg) — important for normal bone structure in the body

You get these compounds either through the foods you eat or through vitamin capsules. All of these inorganic compounds are necessary for you to remain in good health.

Organic compounds are also needed for you to live. Organic compounds originate from living organisms, such as plants and animals. The four most important groups, known as the building blocks of life, are the following:

1. nucleic acids
2. carbohydrates
3. lipids
4. proteins

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Nucleic acids: The nucleic acids are the building blocks of living organisms. You may have heard of DNA described the same way. Guess what? DNA is just one type of nucleic acid! Some foods that contain nucleic acids are fish, beans, nuts, spinach, beef, mushrooms, and eggs.

Carbohydrates: Almost all organisms use carbohydrates as sources of energy. Carbohydrates include sugars, starches, and fibres found in fruits, grains, vegetables, and milk products.

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Lipids: When you think of fats, you should know that they are lipids. Lipids are found in meats, milk, cheese, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and prepared whipped toppings. Margarine, butter, and shortening also contain saturated fat lipids.

Proteins: You probably know you need to eat protein, but what is it? Many foods contain protein, but the best sources are beef, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts, seeds, and legumes like black beans and lentils. Proteins are essential for muscle development. Protein builds, maintains, and replaces the tissues in your body. Your muscles, your organs, and your immune system are made up mostly of proteins.

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You should always have a healthy balance of what you put into your body. Too much of one thing or not enough of another can have negative effects on your health. You must not take in too many inorganic compounds or organic compounds. For example, if you find that you have cramps during exercise or that you have very sore muscles after exercise, one solution may be to eat a banana before starting your exercise! Bananas are high in potassium, and having enough potassium in your body helps to prevent cramping.

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