Organic chemistry- the study of carbon, the compounds it

makes, and the reactions it undergoes.

➢ over 16 million carbon-containing compounds are known

➢ because the C-C single bond (348 kJ/mol) and the C-H bond
(412 kJ/mol) are strong, carbon compounds are stable and can
form chains and rings.

Organic compounds- can be naturally occurring or synthetic.

-are the primary constituents of all living organisms.
-exceptions: metal carbonates, cyanides, cyanates,
thiocyanates, oxides of carbon, metal carbides,
ferricyanides and ferrocyanides.
Characteristics of most organic compounds:

1. They are nonpolar compounds. They do not dissolve in polar

solvents like water.
2. They have low melting and boiling points due to weak
intermolecular forces compare to ionic compounds.
3. They react slower than ionic compounds due to strong
covalent bonds between atoms.
4. Organic compounds are not stable towards heat. They
decompose on heating at high temperature.
5. Organic compounds have been classified into many classes
each having the same functional group.
6. Organic compounds are more complex and have high molecular
weights.
History of organic chemistry:

1. Berzelius in 1808 first defined organic chemistry.

the vital force theory- organic compounds can only be
produced under the influence of a vital force (present
and originated in living things)
2. Woehler (1828)- synthesized urea from ammonium cyanate.
- disproved the vital force theory.
- led to the synthesis of other organic compounds.
- father of organic chemistry
3. Gmelin (1848)- noted that organic compounds always contain
the element carbon.
4. Kekule and Couper (1858)- showed that carbon can combine
with itself through covalent bond to form an infinite number
of chain and ring compounds. The process is called
Catenation.
 Organic compounds
Composed of C and elements of H, halogen, S, N, P, O
Complex structure
Of high molecular weight composition
Stable because of covalent bonding
Bonding is almost entirely covalent
Many are gases, liquids, or solids with low melting
points (less than 360oC)
Most are insoluble in water
Most are soluble in organic solvents such as diethyl
ether, toluene, and dichloromethane
Aqueous solutions do not conduct electricity
Almost all burn and decompose
Reactions are usually slow
Inorganic compounds
Composed mostly of salts, metals and other elemental
compounds
Mostly identical crystalline in structure
Simple lower molecular weight
Easier to donate electrons due to ionic bonding making
it less stable
Most have ionic bonds
Most are solids with high melting points
Many are soluble in water
Almost all are insoluble in inorganic solvents
Aqueous solutions form ions that conduct electricity
Very few burn
Reactions are often very fast
Catenation- the unique property of carbon to bond with itself.

Relevance of organic chemistry to other fields of study:

➢Organic Chemistry is the foundation of the biology and the life

as we know it. The structure of Carbon allows it to be organized
in a million different ways and nearly everything you are is made
up of organic materials.
Catenation- the unique property of carbon to bond with itself.

Relevance of organic chemistry to other fields of study:

➢Organic Chemistry is the foundation of the biology and the life

as we know it. The structure of Carbon allows it to be organized
in a million different ways and nearly everything you are is made
up of organic materials.

➢Used by chemists in making new substances, pharmacologists to

make new medicines, doctors for treating patients, veterinarians
for treating animals, and other fields of study that uses organic
chemistry.
End of slide …