FUNDAMENTALS

OF ORGANIC
CHEMISTRY
Learning Competency:
Explain the importance of
organic chemistry in
everyday life
LOOKING
BACK
AGRICULTURE
In CHEMISTRY, the term
ORGANIC describes chemical
compounds that contain
CARBON and other
elements such as hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and
phosphorus.
The term organic
compound was
coined by Jöns
Jacob Berzelius in
1807
 He developed a theory called the
vital force theory.
 The vital force theory stated
that organic compounds could
not be made in a lab, but
needed a mysterious, God-given
power that was found only in
living organisms.
Friedrich Wöhler was
the first to synthesize
an organic compound
from an inorganic
substance.
In 1828, he synthesized urea
by slowly evaporating a water
solution of ammonium
cyanate, which he had
prepared by adding silver
cyanate to ammonium
chloride.
Organic Chemistry is the
study of carbon containing
compounds.
Organic chemistry is the study
of the structure, properties,
composition, reactions, and
preparation of carbon-
containing compounds.
 The few carbon-containing
compounds not classified as
organic include carbides,
carbonates, and cyanides
Examples:
Carbides- Al4C3
Carbonates- CaCO3
Cyanides- NaCN
Examples of Organic
Chemistry in
Everyday Life
Here are examples of organic
chemistry at work:

Food
Some food products are made of
carbon compounds like
carbohydrates, Proteins, fats and
even vitamins.
Medicine
The prime store of organic compounds. Though
not all but many medicines are made of organic
substances like antibiotics, anticancer drugs,
painkillers, antidepressant, anesthetics etc.
Polymers consist of long chains and branches of
molecules. Common polymers you encounter
every day are organic molecules. Examples
include nylon, acrylic, PVC, polycarbonate,
cellulose, and polyethylene.
Petrochemicals are chemicals derived
from crude oil or petroleum. Fractional
distillation separates the raw material into
organic compounds according to their
different boiling points. Examples include
gasoline, plastics, detergents, dyes, food
additives, natural gas, and medicines
Soaps and Detergents
Although both are used for cleaning, soap and
detergent are two different examples of organic
chemistry. Soap is made by the 
saponification reaction, which reacts to hydroxide
with an organic molecule (e.g., an animal fat) to
produce glycerol and crude soap. While soap is an
emulsifier, detergents tackle oily, greasy (organic)
soiling mainly because they are surfactants, which
lower the surface tension of the water and increase
the solubility of organic compounds.
Perfume
Whether a perfume fragrance comes from
a flower or a lab, the molecules you smell
and enjoy are an example of organic
chemistry.
Cosmetics
The cosmetics industry is a lucrative sector
of organic chemistry. Chemists examine
changes in the skin in response to
metabolic and environmental factors,
formulate products to address skin
problems and enhance beauty, and analyze
how cosmetics interact with the skin and
other products
Why are there so many organic compounds?
1. Carbon forms stable, covalent bonds with other
carbon atoms.
2. Carbon atoms form stable bonds with other
elements, such as:
-oxygen
-nitrogen
-sulfur
-halogen
Why are there so many organic compounds?

3. Carbon atoms form double or

triple bonds with:
-Other carbon atoms (double &
triple bond)
Guide Questions:
1.What are the kinds of
product we usually use
and utilize?
2.Do you think the products
that we use are very
helpful to us? Why?
3.How is Organic Chemistry
important to our daily life?