Classification Organic Compounds

Introduction

Organic compounds are compounds that exist in a solid, liquid, or gaseous state. Organic compounds contain carbon as well as other elements that are necessary for the reproduction of living organisms, such as hydrogen and oxygen. Carbon is the most important factor because it has four electrons, which can accommodate eight electrons in an outer shell, making it the most versatile element. Because of this, various types of bonds can be formed between carbon atoms and with elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (among others). Organic molecules such as hydrocarbons and proteins are excellent examples of long-chained and complex-structured molecules that can be synthesized.

Organic compounds made up of these molecules serve as the building blocks for chemical reactions in plant and animal cells, which in turn provide the energy required for finding food, reproducing, and carrying out all other life-sustaining processes and functions.

Organic compounds can be divided into two categories: acyclic (open chain) and cyclic (closed chain). 

1.Acyclic or Open chain compounds:

Compounds with branched or straight chains are known as aliphatic compounds. Acyclic or open chain compounds are also known as aliphatic compounds. 

2.Alicyclic or Closed Chain or Ring Compounds:

Those are cyclic compounds, which are made up of carbon atoms that are linked together in a ring (homocyclic). Histidine is used to describe a compound that contains atoms other than carbon.

On the basis of functional groups, organic compounds can be divided into families or homologous series, which are subsets of the larger family.

1.Functional group:

A functional group is a group of people who perform a specific function.

The functional group can be defined as an atom or a group of atoms that are linked together in a specific way, and that are responsible for the chemical properties that distinguish organic compounds from other types of compounds. The hydroxyl group -OH, the aldehyde group -CHO, and the carboxylic acid group -COOH are all examples of functional groups in this context

2. Homologous series:

A homologous series is a collection of organic compounds in which each member contains the same characteristic functional group and differs from the others by a fixed unit. The members of a homologous series are referred to as homologous because they all contain the same characteristic functional group. Using a general formula to represent each member of the homologous series, it can be shown that the successive members differ from one another in the molecular formula by a single -CH2 unit. Several homologous series exist in organic chemistry, such as the alkanes, ethyl alanine acetate, haloalkanes, alkanols, alkanols acetate, amines and other related compounds.

Classification

Organic compounds can be divided into a number of different categories. One important distinction is made between natural and synthetic compounds, as well as between biotechnology and other technologies.

1.Natural compounds:

Natural compounds are those that are produced by living organisms such as plants or animals. It is still necessary to obtain many of these from natural sources because it would be more expensive to manufacture them artificially. Most sugars, some alkaloids and terpenoids, certain nutrients such as vitamin B12, and, in general, natural products containing large or stereo isometrically complicated molecules that are present in reasonable concentrations in living organisms are examples.

2.Synthetic compounds:

“Synthetic” compounds are those that are created through the reaction of other substances. Chemicals that are not found in nature, such as compounds found in plants or animals, are classified as “artificial.”

The majority of polymers (a category that includes all plastics and rubbers) are organic synthetic or semi-synthetic compounds made from organic or inorganic ingredients.

3.Biotechnology:

Industrial production of many organic compounds (ethanol and insulin, for example) is made possible by the use of organisms such as bacteria and yeast. Typically, the DNA of an organism is altered in order for the organism to express compounds that it would not otherwise produce. In nature, many of these biotechnology-engineered compounds were not previously found.

Uses of organic compounds

1.Methane is a colourless gas that is used in the production of motor tyres and printing ink, the generation of light and energy, and the production of methyl alcohol, formaldehyde, and chloroform, among other things.

2.Butane is used as an LPG fuel because of its liquid state.

3.Ethylene is used in a variety of applications including fruit ripening and preservation, mustard gas, anaesthesia, and the oxy-ethylene flame, among others.

4.Polythene is used for a variety of applications, including the production of electrical resistance in wires and cables, the formation of layers in the cap of bottles, and the production of non-breakable bottles, pipes, and buckets, among others.

5.Polystyrene is used in the production of acid bottle caps, the construction of accumulator cell bodies, and other applications as well.

Conclusion

Organic compounds made up of these molecules serve as the building blocks for chemical reactions in plant and animal cells, which in turn provide the energy required for finding food, reproducing, and carrying out all other life-sustaining processes and functions.

Organic compounds can be divided into two categories: acyclic (open chain) and cyclic (closed chain).On the basis of functional groups, organic compounds can be divided into families or homologous series, which are subsets of the larger family.Organic compounds can be classified into natural, synthetic and biotechnological compounds. Organic molecules are utilised by humans in a variety of applications including foods, pharmaceuticals, fuels, and other materials.