Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry is the discipline of chemistry that studies organic substances scientifically (compounds that contain covalently bonded carbon atoms). Organic chemistry is concerned with the structure and chemical composition of organic molecules, their physical and chemical properties, and the chemical reactions that these compounds undergo. Organic chemistry has made enormous contributions to human society, including the development of several medications, polymers, and other natural products. Synthetic organic chemistry is a branch of organic chemistry concerned with the creation and design of organic molecules for practical applications.

As  the study of organic chemistry was initially limited to substances created by living creatures, the name “organic” was coined. This was attributed to some kind of ‘vital power’ that living substances possessed that inanimate substances lacked. When Urey Miller produced urea from inorganic chemicals, the aforementioned theory was refuted, although the classification is still in use.

As one essential feature shown by the atom carbon, called carbon catenation, organic chemistry is a huge subject. Carbon has a remarkable ability to make extremely stable bonds with other carbon atoms, allowing it to construct stable molecules with relatively complex structures. Catenation is an element’s ability to create bonds with atoms of the same type. As a result, this feature of carbon is responsible for the immensity of organic chemistry.

Organic Compounds: An Overview

Previously, people believed that organic substances come from plants and animals, whereas inorganic compounds come from minerals and non-living sources. The contemporary definition of organic compounds, however, differs from this.

Any chemical whose molecules contain carbon and hydrogen (commonly known as “hydrocarbons”), or a derivative of it, is defined as an organic compound. Organic chemistry is the discipline of science concerned with the scientific study of the structure, characteristics, and reactions of hydrocarbons and their derivatives.

Characteristics of Organic Compound 

Organic compounds have the following general characteristics:

 • They can be isolated and synthesised in the laboratory.

• They contain over 90% of all known chemicals.

• Consists primarily of three elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Other elements such as halogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus are also present, albeit in smaller amounts.

• They have complicated structures and large molecular weights.

• The functional group, which is made up of active atoms or groups of atoms, determines their properties.

• They are typically soluble in organic solvents but insoluble in water.

Organic substances are flammable by nature, and chemical processes involving them are slower.

Characteristics Associated with the Presence of Covalent Bonds

A covalent bond is a chemical link that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, resulting in an equilibrium of attractive and repulsive forces. The presence of a covalent bond gives organic compounds particular features. 

• Organic acids and bases are weaker than inorganic acids and bases, resulting in restricted dissociation in an aqueous media.

 • They exhibit the phenomenon of isomerism, in which a single molecular formula reflects many organic compounds with different physical and chemical properties.

• They are highly flammable.

General Characteristics of Homologous Series Members

A homologous series is a collection of organic chemical compounds with comparable structures (and thus similar properties) that vary only in the amount of CH₂– CH₂ units in the primary carbon chain. They have the following traits in common:

• The members of the homologous series are described by a general formula.

• CH₂CH₂ is the difference between successive members.

• As the number of carbon atoms increases, physical properties alter.

• Because they share the same functional group, members have similar chemical properties.

• Members of the homologous series can all be made in the same way.

Importance of  Organic Compounds

• Organic compounds are significant because carbon is found in all living species.

• The basic structures of life, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, are organic substances.

• They are the fundamental elements of many of the earth’s cycles.

 • Organic chemicals mix with metals to generate organometallic compounds, such as the carbon cycle, which includes the exchange of carbon between plants and animals in photosynthesis and cellular respiration. These chemicals are crucial in industry. They’re used as catalysts, promoters, analyzers, and stabilisers, among other things.

Conclusion 

We conclude that Organic chemistry is significant because it is concerned with life and all of its chemical processes. Doctors, veterinarians, dentists, pharmacologists, chemical engineers, and chemists are among the professionals who use organic chemistry knowledge.