Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Intended Learning Outcome:

1. Define Organic Chemistry.
2. Distinguish organic from inorganic
compounds.

Time Allocation: 4 hours

PREPARATION

Let the students view this video on YouTube on this website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRz-jH4CAy8

PRESENTATION

Organic chemistry is the study of "living" things—not in the same way that biology is the study of life. Rather,
organic chemistry takes a look at what composes the living things, and how they’re structured. Organic chemistry
breaks down living things not only into organs seen in organisms, but goes a step further to break down those
organs into atoms and molecules. It focuses mainly on carbon, which is highly essential to maintaining life, and
particularly zeroes in on the hydrocarbon, which is a molecule composed of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons not
only compose what we’re made of, but also what we consume, including carbohydrates, proteins, steroids, fats, and
more! As a matter of fact, you may be surprised to know that everyday things, such as caffeine, plastic, and paint are
all composed of hydrocarbons!

https://www.wyzant.com/resources/lessons/science/chemistry/introduction_to_organic_chemistry

Organic chemistry is the study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-
containing compounds, which include not only hydrocarbons but also compounds with any number of other
elements, including hydrogen (most compounds contain at least one carbon–hydrogen bond), nitrogen, oxygen,
halogens, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur. This branch of chemistry was originally limited to compounds produced by
living organisms but has been broadened to include human-made substances such as plastics. The range of
application of organic compounds is enormous and also includes, but is not limited to, pharmaceuticals,
petrochemicals, food, explosives, paints, and cosmetics.

https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/careers/college-to-career/areas-of-chemistry/organic-chemistry.

Organic chemistry is the study of the chemistry of carbon compounds. Carbon is singled out because it has a
chemical diversity unrivaled by any other chemical element. Its diversity is based on the following:

1. Carbon atoms bond reasonably strongly with other carbon atoms.

2. Carbon atoms bond reasonably strongly with atoms of other elements.
3. Carbon atoms make a large number of covalent bonds (four).

Curiously, elemental carbon is not particularly abundant. It does not even appear in the  list of the most
common elements in Earth’s crust.  Nevertheless, all living things consist of organic compounds.

Most organic chemicals are covalent compounds, which is why we introduce organic chemistry here. By
convention, compounds containing carbonate ions and bicarbonate ions, as well as carbon dioxide and carbon
monoxide, are not considered part of organic chemistry, even though they contain carbon.

The simplest organic compounds are the hydrocarbons, compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen
atoms only. Some hydrocarbons have only single bonds and appear as a chain (which can be a straight chain or can
have branches) of carbon atoms also bonded to hydrogen atoms. These hydrocarbons are called alkanes (saturated
hydrocarbons). Each alkane has a characteristic, systematic name depending on the number of carbon atoms in the
molecule. These names consist of a stem that indicates the number of carbon atoms in the chain plus the ending –
ane. The stem meth– means one carbon atom, so methane is an alkane with one carbon atom. Similarly, the
stem eth– means two carbon atoms; ethane is an alkane with two carbon atoms. Continuing, the stem prop– means
three carbon atoms, so propane is an alkane with three carbon atoms. 
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-potsdam-organicchemistry/chapter/1-1-introduction-to-organic-chemistry

Question: Why Quit Cigarette Smoking?

Answer: Cigarette smoke contains around 7000 chemicals, 250 of which are known to be hazardous, 69 can
cause cancer. These chemicals can harm both smokers and non-smokers who inhale the smoke.
Among the cancer-causing chemicals are organic substances such as the Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAHs), acetaldehyde, aromatic amines, benzene, ethylene oxide, 1,3-butadiene,
formaldehyde and vinyl chloride.

Difference between Organic and Inorganic Compounds

Organic and inorganic compounds form one of the primary bases for chemistry. The study of organic compounds is
termed as organic chemistry and the study of inorganic compounds is inorganic chemistry. These are said to be one
of the large class of members. The primary difference that lies between these organic compounds and inorganic
compounds is that organic compounds always have a carbon atom while most of the inorganic compounds do not
contain the carbon atom in them. Almost all the organic compounds contain the carbon-hydrogen or a simple C-H
bond in them.
The most common fact that differentiates organic compounds from inorganic compounds is that the organic
compounds mainly result from activities of a living being. Whereas, inorganic compounds are obtained from the
natural processes which are not related to any of the life forms on earth or any result of human experiments which
are conducted in laboratories.
The difference between organic and inorganic compounds does not end with the presence or the absence of carbon
atoms in them. These have characteristics of both the types of compounds which are said to be different.
 Difference between Organic and Inorganic Compounds

No Organic Compounds Inorganic Compounds

1. Organic compounds are characterized by the Most inorganic compounds do not have carbon atoms in
presence of carbon atoms in them them (some exceptions do exist)

2. Organic compounds consisting of hydrogen, They do not possess hydrogen or oxygen and their
oxygen, carbon, and their other derivatives derivatives

3. Organic compounds are said to be more volatile These compounds are not inflammable and are non-
and also highly inflammable volatile in nature

4. These compounds exist in the form of Solids, These exist as solids

gases, and liquids.

5. These are insoluble in water These are soluble in water and also non-soluble in some
of the organic solutions.

6. These compounds have the carbon-hydrogen These do not have the carbon-hydrogen bonds
bonds

7. Organic compounds are mainly found in most of These compounds are found in non-living things
the living things

8. Organic compounds form covalent bonds Inorganic compounds form ionic bonds between the
atoms of molecules

9. In most of the aqueous solutions, these are poor In aqueous solutions, these are known to be good
conductors of heat and electricity conductors of heat and electricity

10. Examples of organic compounds include fats, The example for inorganic compounds includes non-
nucleic acids, sugars, enzymes, proteins, and metals, salts, metals, acids, bases, substances which are
hydrocarbon fuels made from single elements

11. These have relatively low melting points and These have low melting and boiling points compared to
boiling points. organic compounds

12 These are biological and more complex in nature These are of mineral and not much complexity in nature

13 Organic compounds cannot make salts Inorganic compounds can make salts

https://byjus.com/chemistry/difference-between-organic-and-inorganic-compounds/

Republic of the Philippines

CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
BARILI CAMPUS
Cagay, Barili, Cebu, Philippines
Website: http://www.ctu.edu.ph Phone: +6332 513-0641 / 516-1742
 PRACTICE
Name:_____________________________________________ Course & Year:_____________
Subject:____________________________________________ Date:____________________

Instruction:
Given the table below, decide if the compound is Organic or Inorganic by indicating with a check mark. Give a brief
explanation next to the check mark to support your answer, (Write your answer on a long white bond paper and
submit it through my email add: saobarili@ctu.edu.ph).

Compounds Organic Inorganic

1. HCl

2. CH4

3. (NH4)2SO3

4. C3H8O

5. Al4C3

6.CO2

7. CH3COOH

8. C4H10

9. C8H10N4O2

10. PbBr3

11. CaCO3

12. CH3CH2OH

13. H2O

14. H3PO3

15. MgSO4