The study of carbon-based compounds
and their properties.
Historically the distinction between
inorganic and organic substances was
based on whether or not they were
produced by living systems. It was
believed that some sort of “life force”
was needed to synthesize them.
NH4OCN  H2N—C—NH2
O
urea
In 1828, the German chemist Freidrich Wohler
(1800-1882) prepared urea from the inorganic
salt ammonium cyanate by simple heating.
Hydrocarbons:
contain only hydrogen and carbon
Hydrocarbons can be divided into different
types, depending on their bonding.
Hydrocarbons
Aliphatic
Aromatic
Alkanes Alkenes Alkynes Cyclic
Naming Organic Molecules
Alkanes - - Carbon chain, no double
or triple bonds. All single bonds
Alkenes - - Carbon chain, contains
double bond(s)
Alkynes - - Carbon chain, contains
triple bond(s)
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-
Suffix: indicates types of bonds present
Alkanes: (all single bonds) ___ -ane
Alkenes: (double bond)
___ -ene
Alkyne: (triple bond)
___ -yne
For example…
For example…
For example…
Saturated Hydrocarbons
 contain
only single C-C bonds
Unsaturated hydrocarbons:
 contain
double or triple C-C bonds
Saturated Hydrocarbons:
 the
ALKANES: chains of carbon
connected by single bonds:
ALKANES
methane, CH4
ALKANES
ethane, C2H6
ALKANES
propane, C3H8
ALKANES
butane, C4H10
ALKANES
pentane, C5H12
ALKANES
hexane, C6H14
ALKANES
octane, C8H18
“Normal” v. Branched
 “normal”
hydrocarbons are straight
chains; no branching
 Branched-chain
hydrocarbons – isomers
of “normal” hydrocarbons; have same
formula, but different structures
n-butane
2-methlypropane
n-pentane
2-methylbutane
2,2-dimethylpentane
Cycloalkanes
cyclopentane
Unsaturated Hydrocarbons:
ALKENES – contain C-C double bonds
2-pentene
Unsaturated Hydrocarbons:
ALKENES – contain C-C double bonds
2,4-hexadiene
Unsaturated Hydrocarbons:
ALKYNES – contain C-C triple bonds
1-butyne
Unsaturated Hydrocarbons:
ALKYNES – contain C-C triple bonds
3-ethyl-1-pentyne
Aromatic Hydrocarbons:
benzene – the simplest aromatic
hydrocarbon; has a symmetrical ring
structure
Aromatic Hydrocarbons:
benzene – can be drawn like this…
Derivatives of benzene:
1-ethyl-2-methylbenzene
Derivatives of benzene:
1,2-dimethyl-4-propylbenzene
Functional Groups
Functional groups: special groups of
atoms attached to a hydrocarbon
skeleton; the most common sites of
chemical reactivity.
Organic halides: a hydrogen is
replaced by a halogen
fluoro-, chloro-, bromo-, iodo-
2-iodobutane
Organic halides: a hydrogen is
replaced by a halogen
fluoro-, chloro-, bromo-, iodo-
2,4-dibromo-1-hexene
Organic halides: a hydrogen is
replaced by a halogen
fluoro-, chloro-, bromo-, iodo-
1-bromo-2-chlorobenzene
Alcohols & phenols: contain the hydroxyl
group (-OH)
alcohols: at least 1 H on a hydrocarbon is replaced by OH
phenols: at least 1 H on an aromatic ring is replaced by OH
2-propanol
Alcohols & phenols: contain the hydroxyl
group (-OH)
alcohols: at least 1 H on a hydrocarbon is replaced by OH
phenols: at least 1 H on an aromatic ring is replaced by OH
3-methyl-1-butanol
Alcohols & phenols: contain the hydroxyl
group (-OH)
alcohols: at least 1 H on a hydrocarbon is replaced by OH
phenols: at least 1 H on an aromatic ring is replaced by OH
1,2-butanediol
ethers: compounds in which an O atom is
bonded to 2 organic groups: -C-O-C-
methoxymethane (dimethyl ether)
ethers: compounds in which an O atom is
bonded to 2 organic groups: -C-O-C-
methoxypropane (methyl propyl ether)
ethers: compounds in which an O atom is
bonded to 2 organic groups: -C-O-C-
methoxybenzene (methyl phenyl ether)
amines: derivatives of ammonia (NH3) in which 1
or more H atoms are replaced by organic groups
(alkyl or aryl groups)
ammonia
amines: derivatives of ammonia (NH3) in which 1
or more H atoms are replaced by organic groups
(alkyl or aryl groups)
methylamine
amines: derivatives of ammonia (NH3) in which 1
or more H atoms are replaced by organic groups
(alkyl or aryl groups)
trimethylamine
amines: derivatives of ammonia (NH3) in which 1
or more H atoms are replaced by organic groups
(alkyl or aryl groups)
2-aminobutane
amines: derivatives of ammonia (NH3) in which 1
or more H atoms are replaced by organic groups
(alkyl or aryl groups)
1-amino-3-propylcyclohexane
*aniline: the simplest aromatic amine
aniline
*aniline: the simplest aromatic amine
3,5-dichloroaniline
*aniline: the simplest aromatic amine
N,N-dimethylaniline
Carboxylic acids: compounds that contain
the carboxyl group
(general formula is R-COOH)
butanoic acid
Carboxylic acids: compounds that contain
the carboxyl group
(general formula is R-COOH)
ethanoic acid
Carboxylic acids: compounds that contain
the carboxyl group
(general formula is R-COOH)
3-methylpentanoic acid
Carboxylic acids: compounds that contain
the carboxyl group
(general formula is R-COOH)
benzoic acid