The study of carbon-based compounds
and their properties.
21.1 What is Organic Chemistry (SB p.2)
Organic Chemistry
•
Chemistry of the compounds present
in living organisms.
•
•
They all contain carbon.
Organic Chemistry is the Chemistry
of Carbon.
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21.1 What is Organic Chemistry (SB p.4)
Natural Sources of Organic Compounds
Living
things
Carbohydrates /
Proteins / Fats /
Vitamins /
Antibiotics
A variety of
organic products
obtained from
living things
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21.1 What is Organic Chemistry (SB p.4)
Natural Sources of Organic Compounds
Fractional distillation /
oil destructive distillation
Crude
or coal
Alkanes /
Alkenes /
Alkynes /
Aromatic
hydrocarbons
Check Point 21-1
A variety of
useful products
derived from
crude oil and coal
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21.1 What is Organic Chemistry (SB p.3)
Development of Organic Chemistry
as a Science
In the past …,
Chemistry
Organic compounds
obtained from
living organisms
Inorganic
compounds
obtained from
non-living sources
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21.1 What is Organic Chemistry (SB p.3)
Development of Organic Chemistry
as a Science
Redefining … ...
Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds (except CO, CO2,
carbonates, hydrogencarbonates, carbides and cyanides) obtained from
natural sources or synthesized in the laboratories.
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The Unique
Nature of Carbon
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• How many electrons does C want?
– Meaning… how many bonds is C able to make
21.2 The Unique Nature of Carbon (SB p.5)
Ability to Catenate
• Carbon atoms link together to form
chains of varying length, branched
chains and rings of different sizes
• Catenation:
 Ability of atoms in forming stable
bonds with itself, hence joining up
into chains or rings
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Hydrocarbons:
contain only hydrogen and carbon
Hydrocarbons can be divided into different
types, depending on their bonding.
Hydrocarbons
Aliphatic
Aromatic
Alkanes Alkenes Alkynes Cyclic
Alkanes
• Alkanes - - Carbon chain, no double or
triple bonds. All single bonds
(saturated)
Naming Organic Molecules
There are two parts to the main name
of each molecule…
prefix: tells the
# of carbons in
main chain or ring
suffix: tells the
type of bonding in
the chain or ring
Prefix: indicates number of carbon
atoms in the main chain or ring
1 meth-
6 hex-
2 eth-
7 hept-
3 prop-
8 oct-
4 but-
9 non-
5 pent-
10dec-
ALKANES
ALKANES
propane, C3H8
ALKANES
octane, C8H18