Organic chemistry

Organic chemistry is the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and synthesis of organic compounds that by definition contain carbon. It is a specific discipline within the subject of chemistry. Organic compounds are molecules composed of carbon and hydrogen, and may contain any number of other elements. Many organic compounds contain nitrogen, oxygen, halogens, and more rarely phosphorus or sulphur.

Categories of organic substances

Because so very many compounds exist, a clear, unambiguous naming system is necessary. Organic nomenclature is the system established for naming and grouping organic compounds. Organic subtances are classified by their molecular structural arrangement, and by what other atoms are present: hydrogen is impicitly assumed. Other atoms such as O, N, or Cl almost always bond in certain relative ways, forming functional groups. In chemistry, structure is quite synonymous with function, and so the structural categories double as categories of property or activity. The main organizational categories are: (HC=pure hydrocarbons, FG=containing functional groups):

Related Topics:
Organic nomenclature - Organic compound - Functional groups

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Aliphatic compounds

Aliphatic compounds are organic molecules that do not contain aromatic parts. Typically, they contain hydrocarbon chains.

Related Topics:
Aliphatic - Hydrocarbon

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:HC: Alkanes - Alkenes - Dienes or Alkadienes - Alkynes - Alicyclic compounds

Related Topics:
Alkane - Alkene - Dienes or Alkadienes - Alkyne - Alicyclic compound

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:FG: Haloalkanes

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Aromatic compounds

Aromatic compounds are organic molecules that contain one or more aromatic rings - a ring of six carbon atoms in a hybrid bond, like benzene.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:HC: Benzene - Toluene - Styrene - Xylene - Aniline - Naphthalene - Azulene - Biphenyl - Anthracene - Phenanthrene - Benzopyrene - Coronene

Related Topics:
Benzene - Toluene - Styrene - Xylene - Aniline - Naphthalene - Azulene - Biphenyl - Anthracene - Phenanthrene - Benzopyrene - Coronene

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:FG: Phenol - Haloarenes - Acetophenone - Benzonitrile

Related Topics:
Phenol - Haloarenes - Acetophenone - Benzonitrile

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Heterocyclic compounds

Heterocyclic compounds are cyclic organic molecules whose ring(s) contain at least one heteroatom. These heteroatoms can include oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:single ring: Pyrrole - Pyridine - Imidazole - Pyrimidine - Thiophene - Furan

Related Topics:
Pyrrole - Pyridine - Imidazole - Pyrimidine - Thiophene - Furan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:multi ring: Indole - Purine

Related Topics:
Indole - Purine

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Functional group based

:Alcohols - Aldehydes - Ketones - Amides - Amines - Carboxylic acids - Ethers - Esters - Thiols - Nitriles

Related Topics:
Alcohol - Aldehyde - Ketone - Amide - Amine - Carboxylic acid - Ether - Ester - Thiols - Nitrile

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Polymers

Polymers are a special kind of molecule. Generally considered "large" molecules, polymers get their reputation regarding size because they are molecules that consist of chains of multiple smaller segments. The segments could be chemically identical, which would make such a molecule a homopolymer - or, the segments could vary in chemical structure, which would make that molecule a heteropolymer. Polymers are a subset of "macromolecules" which is basically a classification for all molecules that are considered large.

Related Topics:
Polymers - Macromolecules

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Polymers can be organic or inorganic. Commonly-encountered polymers are usually organic (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, Plexiglass, etc.). But inorganic polymers (e.g., silicone) are also familiar within everyday items.

Related Topics:
Polyethylene - Polypropylene - Plexiglass - Silicone

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bio-molecules

Bio-molecular chemistry is a major category within organic chemistry. Many complex multi-functional group molecules are important in living organisms. Some of them are considered to be polymers (biopolymers).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Carbohydrates - Amino acids

Related Topics:
Carbohydrates - Amino acids

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Polysaccharides - Lipids - Proteins - Nucleic acids

Related Topics:
Polysaccharides - Lipids - Proteins - Nucleic acids

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~