Final answer:
Xenobiotics are synthetic compounds found in organisms that are not normally produced or expected to be present in that organism. They differ from metabolites, which are natural products of organism's metabolism. Xenobiotics include man-made pollutants and can accumulate in the environment, whereas metabolites can be primary, necessary for basic functions, or secondary, which can play roles in protection or have pharmaceutical uses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Synthetic compounds found in an organism but not normally produced or expected to be present in that organism are called xenobiotics. These are compounds synthesized by humans and introduced into the environment, often in concentrations much higher than would naturally occur. Xenobiotics may include a range of substances such as pesticides, drugs, and industrial pollutants. They are not metabolites that result from the anabolic and catabolic reactions of an organism; rather, they are foreign to the biological system and often difficult to break down, potentially accumulating in the food chain.
Metabolites generated by organisms can be categorized into primary metabolites and secondary metabolites. Primary metabolites are essential for an organism's basic functions, such as growth and maintenance of life processes, while secondary metabolites are not directly required for survival but may play other roles, such as defense against herbivores. Compounds like glycol cyanide in cassava that release toxins upon ingestion are examples of how secondary metabolites can be protective. Furthermore, many secondary metabolites have been utilized as medicines and other important pharmaceuticals for humans.