Delphinidin

The living substance of cells consists of cytoplasm and the structures within it. The numerous internal structures, which vary considerably in size. About 96% of cytoplasm and its included structures are composed of the elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; 3% consists of phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. The remaining 1% includes calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, chlorine, copper, manganese, cobalt, zinc, and minute quantities of other elements. When a plant first absorbs these elements from the soil or atmosphere, or when it uses breakdown products within the cell, the elements are in the form of simple molecules or ions.

These simple forms may be converted to very large, complex molecules through the metabolism of the cells. The large molecules invariably have “backbones” of carbon atoms within them and are said to be organic. The myriad of chemical reactions of living organisms is based on organic compounds. Most other molecules that contain no carbon atoms are called inorganic. Exceptions include carbon dioxide (CO2) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). The name “organic” was given to most of the chemicals of living things when it was believed that only living organisms could produce molecules containing carbon. Today, many organic compounds can be produced artificially in the laboratory, and scientists sometimes hesitate to classify as either organic or inorganic some of the 4 million carbon-containing compounds thus far identified. Most scientists, nevertheless, agree that inorganic compounds usually do not contain carbon.