Chemistry is a field of study that deals with the study of molecules, compounds, and substances. It primarily focuses on the properties of atoms and ions found in substances. The subject is primarily concerned with the reaction that occurs between two or more compounds or substances. Any change in the environment is the result of a physical or chemical change, and it can be found to have significant effects on the reactions that occur between them.
What is Organic Chemistry?
Organic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that mainly discusses the formation of organic compounds, their properties, reactions undergone by them and their structure. Advances in organic chemistry have made numerous contributions to human society, including the synthesis of several drugs, polymers, and other natural products. Synthetic organic chemistry is an essential part of organic chemistry that focuses on the design and development of organic compounds for real-life applications.
Wide Range of Organic Compounds
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds. Organic compounds are solid, liquid, or gaseous compounds containing carbon atoms in their molecules. Organic compounds are described as the atoms that are connected to form a large class of organic compounds in which one or more carbon atoms are connected with the atoms of other elements, most commonly hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen, by covalent bonds. The compounds have their own properties and classes. The classes can be determined as a single bond, double bond, triple bond, different types of carbohydrates, acids, phenols and many more.
Why is Carbon So Important in Organic Chemistry?
Carbon is the only element that can frame so many different molecules. It is because each carbon atom can connect two chemical bonds with other atoms, and carbon atoms are just the right size to fit perfectly as parts of very large molecules. Carbon is the only atom that must be present in an organic molecule. Carbon is the most important factor because it has four electrons that can hold eight electrons in an outer shell. This property results in the formation of bonds with other carbon atoms and elements like hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
- Carbon has an atomic number of 6.
- Carbon has the following electronic configuration: 1s22s22p2
- In its outermost shell, carbon has four electrons. This demonstrates that it can form four bonds with other atoms. As a result, carbon is a tetravalent atom.
Bond in Organic Compound
Covalent bonds are formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons, according to the definition. The bonds between two carbon atoms in organic compounds are covalent because electrons are shared. As a result, organic compound bonds are covalent. The type of bonds present in these compounds distinguishes them fundamentally.
- Alkanes: These are compounds with only one bond. CnH2n+2 is their general formula. CH4 is an example.
- Alkenes: Alkenes are compounds with double bonds and the general formula CnH2n. C2H4 is an example.
- Alkynes: They have triple bonds and have the general formula CnH2n-2. C2H2 is an example.
Applications of Organic compounds
Organic compounds have applications in all fields. In agriculture, these compounds are used as fertilisers; in medical fields, these compounds are used as antimalarial drugs, antimicrobial agents, pain killers etc. Likewise, in every field, there is some scope for organic chemistry. Here are a few examples of organic compound applications.
- Food industry: Preservatives are used in the food industry to keep food fresh for a longer period of time.
- Paint industry: Organic compounds are used in paints and lubricants. These paints are generally used to paint buildings, cars etc.
- Cosmetics: Perfumes, nail polish, and other cosmetics are all made from organic compounds.
- Detergents and soaps: The soaps and detergents we use on a daily basis are made up of molecules of organic compounds.
- Textile industry: Certain dye compounds are used in the textile industry to put a specific colour into the fabric.
Organic chemistry is a broad field. It is used and applied in everything we use in our daily lives. It can also be found in plants and animals. Some of these are derived from plants and animals in order to meet basic needs. Many scientists are still conducting experiments and research in order to extract these natural compounds, and some are also synthesised artificially. This has a wide range of applications, and when we dig deep into it, we discover that it has created wonders.
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