What exactly does "organic membrane" mean?

[m25]

What exactly does "organic membrane" mean? I seem to come across this term a lot but I'm not sure what it means exactly.

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[azor ahai]

Sort of vague, but I would take it as a non-artificial membrane such as one in a cell or between cells.

 

[m25]

Sort of vague, but I would take it as a non-artificial membrane such as one in a cell or between cells.

Oh I see, so would it include all the features of a natural membrane (such as glycolipid), or does it really not say anything about this?

 

[azor ahai]

Oh I see, so would it include all the features of a natural membrane (such as glycolipid), or does it really not say anything about this?

It doesn't really. "Organic" simply means it is composed of hydrocarbons in some way, and "membrane" is literally just that. I would think of the lipid bi-layer membrane and how it is permeable to non-polar molecules but the word combination "organic membrane" doesn't really tell me much.

 

[m25]

It doesn't really. "Organic" simply means it is composed of hydrocarbons in some way, and "membrane" is literally just that. I would think of the lipid bi-layer membrane and how it is permeable to non-polar molecules but the word combination "organic membrane" doesn't really tell me much.

Ah, that makes sense, thank you so much!

 

[NextStepTutor_1]

I agree with @azor ahai and want to add that when I see "organic" on practice questions/tests/etc. my first instinct is to think "hydrophobic." This is compatible with the interior of the lipid bilayer surrounding our cells.

 

[m25]

I agree with @azor ahai and want to add that when I see "organic" on practice questions/tests/etc. my first instinct is to think "hydrophobic." This is compatible with the interior of the lipid bilayer surrounding our cells.

Ok okay thank you! Can you also relate the word "organic" to an "organic layer" in ochem separation technique? Since organic layer usually dissolves nonpolar/hydrophobic things as opposed to aqueous layer.