6.1: Introduction to Organic Chemistry
- Page ID
- 544360
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- To define organic chemistry
- To classify compounds as organic or inorganic when given the chemical formula
Organic vs Inorganic
In chemistry the word “organic” doesn’t mean the same thing that it means at the supermarket. In the past, it was thought that some compounds could only be produced by living things and these were classified as organic. It turns out that is incorrect! Compounds found in living things CAN be produced synthetically. The first one to be created in the lab was urea which is found in urine. Since then, many more compounds, like ascorbic acid (vitamin C), have been produced in the lab.
So, a different definition of organic compounds was needed. Now we classify chemicals as organic if they contain the elements carbon and hydrogen bonded together. Methane (CH4), sucrose (a sugar), proteins, and DNA are all examples of organic compounds because they contain C-H bonds. Pesticides are often organic compounds, so the definition of “organic” in chemistry is quite different from the way the word is used in daily life! Carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) are not organic compounds because they contain either carbon or hydrogen, not both. Baking soda, which is sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3, is tricky because it contains both carbon and hydrogen, but they are not bonded together. The carbon is only bonded to oxygen and the H atom is also bonded to one of the oxygen atoms. So baking soda is inorganic.
Organic molecules do not necessarily come from living things under the modern definition of the term. Compounds containing carbon and hydrogen can be produced in the lab or may come indirectly from living things like petroleum (crude oil) that is produced when dead organisms are subjected to heat and pressure over a long period of time.
Classify each compound as organic or inorganic.
- NaCl
- C2H6
- C6H12O6
- K2CO3
- C2H5NO2
- Answer 1
-
Inorganic because it does not contain carbon and hydrogen
- Answer 2
-
Organic because it contains both carbon and hydrogen
- Answer 3
-
Organic because it contains both carbon and hydrogen
- Answer 4
-
Inorganic
- Answer 5
-
Organic
The Importance of Carbon in Organic Chemistry
Why carbon? Carbon is very versatile! It has four valence electrons so it forms four covalent bonds. These could be four single bonds, a double bond and two single bonds, two double bonds, or a triple bond and a single bond. That means that carbon can have many different molecular geometries. What is the molecular geometry around carbon for each of the bonding patterns? (see VSEPR)
Carbon atoms can also form long chains or rings. Because of this versatility, carbon is found in a wide variety of molecules that perform a wide variety of functions. Its compounds are the basis of life on Earth.
Summary
- Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen bonded together (and often other elements as well)
- Organic molecules may contain long chains, rings, branched carbon chains, etc.