GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1

MODULE 6
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Many substances throughout nature contain silicon or carbon within their

molecular structures. Silicon is the staple of the geologist. It combines with oxygen in a
variety of ways to produce silica and a family of compounds known as silicates. These
compounds form the chemical foundation of most types of sand, rocks, and soil, which are
essential materials of the construction industry.
In the living world, carbon, in combination with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur,
forms the basis for millions of organic compounds. Carbon compounds provide us with energy
sources in the form of hydrocarbons and their derivatives that allow us to heat and light our
homes, drive our automobiles to work, and fly off to some tourist vacation. Small substitutions
in these carbon molecules can produce chlorofluorocarbons, the compounds used in plastics
and refrigerants. An understanding of these molecules and their effect upon our global
environment is vital in the continuing search to find ways to maintain our lifestyles while
preserving the planet.
Through delicately controlled mechanisms, a living cell oxidizes food for energy,
maintains the concentrations of thousands of aqueous components, interacts continuously
with its environment, synthesizes both simple and complex molecules and even reproduces
itself. No man-made system compares with the cell in terms of its complexity and elegant
functions.
The cell, like a machine, consumes, creates and consists largely of organic
compounds. In addition, except for a few inorganic salts and water, nearly everything put
into or on your body- food, medicine, cosmetics and clothing- consists of organic
compounds.
 GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1

Organic fuels warm our homes, cook our meals and power our vehicles. Major
industries are devoted to producing organic compounds, including plastics,
pharmaceuticals and insecticides.

Learning Competencies
At the end of the module, the learners can:
- Describe the structural isomerism of organic compounds and give examples
- Differentiate the functional groups

- Illustrate some simple reactions of organic compounds like combustion of fuels,

addition, condensation and saponification of fats
- Describe the formation and structure of polymers
- Explain the properties of some polymers in terms of their structure

- Describe the structure of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and

relate them to their function.
- Illustrate the preparation of selected organic compounds

Performance standard
The learners can illustrate the reactions at the molecular level in any of the following:
1. Enzyme action
2. Protein denaturation
3. Separation of components of milk