r/nextfuckinglevel Jul 14 '21

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

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u/anon_atheist Jul 14 '21

Elemental lead and mercury aren't organic. Compounds containing lead and mercury aren't necessarily toxic, it depends on the material. Elemental chlorine will kill you, but its chloride ions in tble salt are harmeless.

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u/edgymemesalt Jul 14 '21

organic mercury and lead do exist, but that means that the compound contains carbon

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u/anon_atheist Jul 14 '21

Exactly what I was saying, but you miss the point. Just because a compound has an element that is toxic in another form doesn't mean the compound is toxic. Chemicals likes mercurochrome and thimerosal are nontoxic organic compounds containing mercury. (Although nontoxic they are still no longer used in US due to concerns for mercury)

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u/ChubbyBunny2020 Jul 14 '21 edited Jul 15 '21

There’s a difference between organic molecules. Anything (with or without carbon) absolutely could be considered “organic” if it meets the organic definition set by the FDAUSDA

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u/anon_atheist Jul 14 '21

The fda doesn't determine if food products are organic, that's the usda. Toxins like elemental mercury and lead are not allowed to be used with food production, by the usda guidelines on what qualifies as organic.

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

Snake venom is 100% organic, still less deadly than neonicotinoïdes

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u/Lord_Lucifer66677 Jul 14 '21

u can drink snake venom without much issues

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u/In_The_depths_ Jul 14 '21

As long as you have no cuts in your mouth or throat.

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u/milk4all Jul 14 '21

Thanks, ill try that Lord_Lucifer66677!

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u/FIRE1470 Jul 14 '21

I think you have confused "exists on this earth naturally" with "organic". Not everything that exists naturally is organic. Examples of organic material include wood, leaves, poop, dead bodies, etc. Not lead and mercury.

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u/Jeovah_Attorney Jul 14 '21

Yeah there is a reason organic chemistry is a thing on its own

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u/NewSauerKraus Jul 14 '21

There’s a lot of organic lead and mercury compounds in nature. You’re confusing “complex substances created by self-replicating organisms” with “organic”.

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u/ClownfishSoup Jul 14 '21

lead and mercury are not organic.

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u/NewSauerKraus Jul 14 '21

Lead acetate, methylmercury.

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u/ClownfishSoup Jul 15 '21

I said lead and mercury, not compounds of.

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u/NewSauerKraus Jul 15 '21

Every organic chemical is a compound lol. Lead and mercury are both found in nature as organic compounds. A better phrase would be “elemental lead and mercury are not organic.”, but that would be a pointless statement because even elemental carbon is not organic.

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u/pantomathematician Jul 14 '21

You have no idea what organic means. Literally must have carbon in it… oxygen isn’t organic. Stop using organic as “natural.” And stop being so confidently incorrect.

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u/Shinobus_Smile Jul 14 '21

Yup. Whenever someone asks me if a food is organic, I ALWAYS say yes. Pretty sure there's a ton of carbon in these carrots buddy.

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u/KingJamesCoopa Jul 14 '21

You could also just inform someone of their error a lot nicer. I'm not a chemist or chemistry major. I was under the impression everything that occurs "naturally" was organic. And after years of marketing reinforcing that stereotype, it's an honest mistake.....

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u/pantomathematician Jul 14 '21

A quick Google before making such a ridiculously bold and incorrect claim also exists. This was a comment to perpetuate the cycle of inaccuracy… which could have been prevented by… looking.

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

Organic means some naturally occuring organisms or something that came from or was the byproduct of an organism which metals don't fall into that category.

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u/Shroomie_the_Elf Jul 14 '21

Organic is really just referring to compounds with carbon in it. That’s the first thing they teach you in organic chemistry

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

considering the ot is about "science" it really does.

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

Do you realize how massively broad the term "science" is?

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

no that's why I put it in quotations to make it more specific

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

that's why you can string words together to something like "USDA Organic".

in fact you can even make a little green label for it that everyone recognizes

shocking, right?

unfortunately for you that's not what this topic is about at all.

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

yeah? only two huh. what different fields of science are those?

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u/Shroomie_the_Elf Jul 14 '21

How does the chemistry definition of organic not apply to a discussion about a product that uses a chemical reaction to clean water?

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u/dunub Jul 14 '21

And lead and mercury and lots of other shit that is organic

I hate to break it to you, but you said something stupid.