Introduction to Organic Chemistry – Hydrocarbons
Organic chemistry originally meant the chemistry of compounds obtainable from plants and animals – living organisms. Organic chemistry is that branch of chemistry that deals with the structure, properties, and reactions of compounds that contain carbon. In other word, organic chemistry is defined as the chemistry of carbon compounds.
Organic molecules = Molecules containing carbon.
Vitalism = Belief in a life force outside the jurisdiction of chemical/physical laws.
Early 19th century organic chemistry was built on a foundation of vitalism because organic chemists could not artificially synthesize organic compounds. It was believed that only living organisms could produce organic compounds.
Mechanism = Belief that all natural phenomena are governed by physical and chemical laws.
Pioneers of organic chemistry began to synthesize organic compounds from inorganic molecules. This helped shift mainstream biological thought from vitalism to mechanism.
For example, Friedrich Wohler synthesized urea in 1828; Hermann Kolbe synthesized acetic acid.
Organic compounds are made up of:
- The main element, carbon
- Hydrogen and oxygen which are usually present
- Elements such as nitrogen, the halogens, phosphorus, sulphur and some metals which are sometimes present.
Unique Nature of Carbon
The presence of numerous organic compounds is due to the following properties of carbon:
- Catenation – the ability to form chains of atoms i.e. to combine with one another to form straight chains, branched chains or ring compounds. This property is called catenation, and is fairly unique.
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