Organic Compounds

Classification Characteristics Examples Importance/ Uses

1. Acyclic or Open - The carbon atoms are  n-butane - It is a colorless gas with a
chain present in the form of  CH 3—CH2—CH2—CH3 faint petroleum-like odor.
compounds an open chain. - It is used as a fuel, an aerosol
propellant, in cigarette
- Their molecules don’t lighters, and to make other
form any ring. chemicals.

- It is called open  Ethane - It is used in the production of

chained compounds CH3-CH3 ethylene for making plastics,
because they have a anti-freeze and detergents
linear structure.
- It's a ripening agent for
foods, a refrigerant, a
substance in producing
welding gas and a primary
ingredient in mustard gas.
 Straight Chain - An arrangement of  Propane - Sometimes known as
Compounds atoms of the same CH3 – CH3 – CH3 liquefied petroleum gas, or
type that forms an LPG — is a gas normally
unbranched open compressed and stored as a
chain. liquid.
- Propane is commonly used
- The C atom are for space and water heating,
connected in one for cooking, and as fuel for
continues chain with engine applications such as
no branches. forklifts, farm irrigation
engines, fleet vehicles, and
buses
 Methane
CH4
- It is an odorless, colorless,
flammable gas

- It is used primarily as fuel to

make heat and light. It is also
used to manufacture organic
chemicals.
 Branched Chain - The carbon skeleton is  Isobutane - It is also an LPG - Liquefied
Compounds in the form of a Petroleum Gas as are butane
branched chain. and propane.
- The main use of isobutane is
- An open chain of in refineries, as a gasoline –
atoms, usually carbon, petrol – additive.
with one or more side
chains attached to it.  Neopentane/ - May liquefy in cool or cold
2,2-Dimethylpropane weather.
- Less dense than water.
Insoluble in water but soluble
in alcohol. Under prolonged
 exposure to fire or heat, the
containers may rupture
violently and rocket.

2. Cyclic or Closed - contain one or more  Cyclopropane - It is also called trimethylene.

Chain or Ring closed chains or rings - An explosive, colourless gas
Compounds of atoms in their used in medicine since 1934
molecules. as a general anesthetic.

- These are kinds of

compounds where
one number of atoms
get connected to form
 Cyclohexane
a closed ring. - It is used as a nonpolar
solvent for the chemical
- It is not mandatory industry, and also as a raw
that every ring of material for the industrial
these compounds is to production of adipic acid and
be the same size. caprolactam, both of which
are intermediates used in the
production of nylon.
 Homocyclic or - Compounds contain
Carbocyclic rings which are made  Benzene - is a highly toxic and volatile
compounds up of only carbon compound sometimes used
atoms in cleaning solutions. Phenol
is another common
- These are molecules homocyclic compound.
that are, or contain,
ring structures that
consist only of carbon
atoms within the ring.

- It is sometimes used as an
 Phenol antiseptic, is a benzene ring
with a hydroxide group
substituted for one hydrogen
in the ring.

A. Alicylic - Homocyclic  Cyclobutane - is a colourless gas and

Compounds compounds which commercially available as a
resemble acyclic liquefied gas.
compounds in most of - used in organic synthesis.
their properties are
called alicyclic
homocyclic
compounds.

- is used in the manufacture of

 Cyclopentane
synthetic resins and rubber
adhesives and also as a
blowing agent in the
manufacture of polyurethane
 insulating foam, as found in
many domestic appliances
such as refrigerators and
freezers, replacing
environmentally damaging
alternatives such as CFC-11
and HCFC-141b.
B. Aromatic - Organic compounds  Toluene - has numerous commercial
Compound containing one or and industrial applications
more benzene rings and is a solvent in paints,
and their lacquers, thinners, glues,
functionalized correction fluid and nail
derivatives are called polish remover, and is used in
aromatic compounds. the printing and leather
- Aromatic compounds tanning processes.
are usually called
benzenoid compounds - are used in the rubber
 Aniline
since they resemble industry for the processing of
benzene in almost all rubber chemicals and
their properties. products such as car tyres,
balloons, gloves, etc.

 Benzenoid - These aromatic  Biphenyl - is used in organic syntheses,

Compounds compounds are mainly heat transfer fluids, dye
obtained from the carriers, food preservatives,
benzene. as an intermediate for
- These compounds are polychlorinated biphenyls,
distinguished by the and as a fungistat in the
existence of one or packaging of citrus fruits.
more than one
isolated or fused
benzene rings - It is the most common
 Para-terphenyl
additionally their isomer. It is used as a laser
derivatives in the dye and a sunscreen
structure. ingredient.

 Monocyclic - one benzene ring  Nitrobenzene - is used to manufacture a

Aromatic chemical called aniline.
compound Nitrobenzene is also used to
produce lubricating oils such
as those used in motors and
machinery.
- The most common use of
 Benzaldehyde benzaldehyde is to confer
almond flavor to foods and
scented products.
- It is used as a bee repellant.
  Polycylic - are hydrocarbons—  Anthracene is used in the artificial
Aromatoc organic compounds production of the red dye
Compounds containing only carbon alizarin. It is also used in
and hydrogen—that wood preservatives,
are composed of insecticides, and coating
multiple aromatic materials.
rings (organic rings in
which the electrons - is used to make mothballs,
are delocalized).  Naphthalene PVC, insecticides (insect
killing chemicals), dyes, toilet
deodorant blocks, and
phthalic anhydride.

 Non- - Aromatic compounds  Azulene - is the active ingredient of

Benzenoid that contain other chamomile. It has antibiotic
Compound highly unsaturated and anti-inflammatory
rings in place of the properties, this helps prevent
benzene ring are ingrown hairs. It works to
called non-benzenoid soothe and repair skin,
aromatic compounds. keeping it soft and healthy.
 Tropolone
- It is a bactericidal antibiotic
composed of a seven-
membered aromatic ring. It
targets a wide variety of
gram-positive and gram-
negative bacteria. Tropolone
has been used to prepared
fused heterocycles and Ga(III)
and In(III) complexes. It is
also a reagent used to reduce
sugars.

 Heterocyclic - Cyclic compounds  Pyridine - is used to dissolve other

compound containing one or substances. It is also used to
more heteroatoms in make many different
their rings are called products such as medicines,
heterocyclic vitamins, food flavorings,
compounds. paints, dyes, rubber
products, adhesives,
- Atoms other than C insecticides, and herbicides.
and H are known as  Pyrrole - used as an intermediate in
Heteroatoms. synthesis of pharmaceuticals,
medicines, agrochemicals,
dyes, photographic
chemicals, perfumes and
other organic compounds.
 Alicyclic - Alicyclic compounds,  Tetrahrydofuran - is a versatile solvent, which is
Heterocycli containing one or one of its main uses. It acts as
c more heteroatoms in an industrial solvent for
Compounds their rings are called making polyvinyl chloride
alicyclic heterocyclic (PVC), the plastic that the
compounds. majority of indoor plumbing
is made out of, and it also
dissolves PVC, and therefore
is a primary ingredient in PVC
adhesives.

 Tetrahydrothiophene - is a colorless liquid with an

unpleasant odor. It is used as
a solvent, chemical
intermediate, fuel gas
odorant, insecticide, and bird
and moth repellent.
 Aromatic - Aromatic cyclic  Furan - also be used as a starting
Heterocycli compounds containing material in the commercial
c one or more production of thiophene.
Compounds heteroatoms in their Furan is used in the
molecules are called formation of lacquers and as
aromatic heterocyclic a solvent for resins.
compounds.

 Thiophene - are important heterocyclic

compounds that are widely
used as building blocks in
many agrochemicals and
pharmaceuticals.