ORGANIC MOLECULES

What is organic chemistry?

Originally organic chemistry was the chemistry of compounds related to life processes. More recently, organic chemistry is defined as the chemistry of compounds that consist primarily of carbon and hydrogen. Atoms of nitrogen, oxygen, halogens, sulphur and phosphorus are also sometimes part of organic molecules.

The chemistry of carbon

Carbon atoms have the ability to form strong covalent bonds with other carbon atoms and also with atoms of other nonmetals. Carbon atoms bond with other carbon atoms to form chains, rings, spheres and tubes. These chains can be thousands of atoms long.

 Carbon atoms have 4 valence electrons and use all four for bonding. During bonding an electron in the 2s orbital is excited to the 2pz orbital. This results in 4 unpaired electrons being available for bonding.

Comparison of ground and excited states of carbon.

Carbon atoms form predominantly covalent bonds. The C C and C H bonds are non polar covalent bonds. The electronegativity of carbon = 2,5 The electronegativity of hydrogen = 2,1

Hydrocarbon molecules are non-polar molecules

Carbon atoms have a special property - being able to bond with other carbon atoms. Carbon has the ability to form long chain molecules. These chains can be un-branched or branched. In some cases carbon atoms link together to form rings.

Carbon chains and rings

Sources of organic compounds

Fossil fuels are a source of hydrocarbons