Subject: Re: Roundup
From: rol@teleport.com (Roland Couture)
Organization: Teleport - Portland's Public Access (503) 220-1016
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 97 21:14:26 GMT
Message-ID: <MOD$970820.28291@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$970816.7652@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$970819.25332@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$970819.26786@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$970820.11172@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
In article <MOD$970820.11172@rec.gardens.ecosystems>,
pyrclark@crosslink.net wrote:
>Using Roundup in an organic garden/environment is like eating chicken,
>beef, or fish and proclaiming to be a vegetarian. While it might seem
>"less" toxic and "less" harmful, it is still not an organic compound.
Even though everyone probably knows what she (he?) meant by "organic compound"
I thought I'd add a little clarification: In chemistry the word has a
different meaning. Basically it's any chemical with molecules made up of
chains of carbon atoms, often with hydrogen and other things. That
broad definition includes substances found in living tissue, moderately simple
molecules like alcohol and gasoline, all the way up to complicated synthetic
molecules like pesticides, drugs, and yes, Roundup. Organic Chemistry is the
science dealing with this. This is to distinguish from Inorganic Chemistry,
which deals with simpler compounds of salts, ceramics, etc., not made up of
carbon chains. I imagine Organic Chemistry was given that name because the
general class of molecules under study (i.e. big ones) includes those commonly
found in living things. But it is possible for a chemical to be
1. synthetic
2. toxic as heck
3. considered an "organic" compound from a chemical standpoint
This kind of organic compound has nothing whatsoever to do with organic
gardening. So be careful when you say "organic compound" in front of a
chemist, they may misunderstand and hand you a big bottle of benzene or
something.
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,8888 888 ?8 * Roland Couture *
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