Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry studies carbon‑based compounds, which form the basis of all known life and many industrial materials.
Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that studies compounds containing carbon. Carbon can form four covalent bonds, allowing an enormous diversity of structures.
Key Functional Groups
| Group | Formula | Example | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | –OH | Ethanol | Polar, H‑bonding |
| Carboxylic acid | –COOH | Acetic acid | Acidic |
| Aldehyde | –CHO | Formaldehyde | Reactive |
| Ketone | –C=O | Acetone | Polar |
| Amine | –NH₂ | Methylamine | Basic |
Hydrocarbons
The simplest organic compounds, containing only carbon and hydrogen:
- Alkanes — single bonds (methane CH₄)
- Alkenes — double bonds (ethene C₂H₄)
- Alkynes — triple bonds (ethyne C₂H₂)
- Aromatics — delocalised π system (benzene C₆H₆)
Why Carbon?
- Forms strong C–C and C–H bonds
- Can bond to itself in long chains and rings (catenation)
- Forms stable multiple bonds
- Bonds with many heteroatoms (O, N, S, P, halogens)
Related molecules: Methane, Ethanol, Benzene, Glucose