Introduction to Org Chem

• Organic Chemistry is the study of carbon compounds
• Some compounds containing carbon are considered inorganic, like CO, CO2, Na2CO3, CaCO3
• Major sources of organic compounds are life-related materials such as plants, animals, microorganisms, coal, and petroleum
• Many organic compounds are synthetically prepared from inorganic sources
• The elements that make up most organic compounds are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, the halogens (Cl, Br, I), phosphorus, and sulfur
• Organic Chemistry is important for understanding the composition of organisms and materials used daily
• Organic Chemistry has contributed significantly to advances in medical science
• • Organic compounds have covalent bonding, while inorganic compounds have ionic bonding
  • Solutions of organic compounds are nonconductors of electricity, while solutions of inorganic compounds are conductors of electricity
  • Organic compounds exhibit isomerism, while isomerism in inorganic compounds is limited
  • Organic compounds are less stable towards heat, while inorganic compounds are stable towards heat
  • Organic compounds rarely ionize, while inorganic compounds ionize readily
  • Organic compounds are less reactive, while inorganic compounds are more reactive
• Organic vs Inorganic Compounds:

  • Organic compounds have low boiling points, while inorganic compounds have high boiling points
  • Organic compounds have low melting points, while inorganic compounds have high melting points
  • Organic compounds have low solubility in water, while inorganic compounds have high solubility in water
  • Organic compounds have high solubility in nonpolar solvents, while inorganic compounds have low solubility in nonpolar solvents
  • Organic compounds are flammable, while inorganic compounds are non-flammable
• Isomerism:

  • Two or more compounds have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements
  • Compounds with the same molecular formula are called isomers
  • Example: Isomers of pentane
• The Role of Carbon in Organic Compounds:

  • Carbon's position in the periodic table
  • Carbon's ability to bond with itself to form multiple bonds (catenation)
• Structure of the Carbon Atom:

  • Atomic number of carbon is 6
  • Carbon has 4 valence electrons that hybridize to form 4 equivalent sp3 orbitals
• Carbon-Carbon Bonds:

  • Carbon can form single, double, or triple bonds with other carbon atoms
• Kinds of Formula:

  • General formula represents an entire series
  • Molecular formula gives the actual number of atoms in the molecule
  • Structural formula shows the arrangement of atoms in the molecule
  • Graphical formula shows all the bonds in the molecule
  • Line angle formula represents carbon atoms at the corners and ends of lines, with each carbon atom attached to enough hydrogen atoms to give four bonds
• Functional Groups:

  • Highly reactive portions of molecules that participate readily in chemical reactions
  • Example: Substituting a hydroxyl (-OH) for a hydrogen atom in an alkane molecule results in an alcohol
• Analysis of Organic Compounds:

  • Methods of purification include crystallization, extraction with an immiscible solvent, sublimation, and distillation
• Establishing the Purity of Organic Compounds:

  • Determining physical constants like melting point and boiling point
• Qualitative Detection of Elements:

  • Detection of Carbon through charring or heating with concentrated sulfuric acid
  • Detection of Nitrogen by burnt hair or feather odor
  • Detection of Sulfur by specific reactions
  • Detection of Phosphorus by oxidizing to phosphate
  • Detection of Halogens using tests like Beilstein test and reactions with specific compounds
• Divisions of Organic Chemistry:

  A. Aliphatic hydrocarbons or open-chain compounds:

  • Saturated hydrocarbons (Alkanes) characterized by single bonds
  • Unsaturated hydrocarbons (Alkenes and Alkynes) characterized by double or triple bonds

  B. Carbon atoms in rings or closed-chain compounds:

  • Alicyclic hydrocarbons (Alkane chains in a ring)
  • Aromatic or carbocyclic hydrocarbons (Benzene series with alternate single and double bonds)
  • Heterocyclic compounds containing constituents other than carbon in the ring