Chapter 1

Introduction to Organic
Chemistry
What is Organic Chemistry?

It is the chemistry of compounds

that contain the element carbon.
6

C
Carbon
12.011
Development of Organic Chemistry

1770
Tornbern Bergman
- first to express the
differences between
compounds from living
sources and non-living
sources
Development of Organic Chemistry

1810
Gevela Jacob Berzelius
- first used the term
‘organic’
Development of Organic Chemistry

Theory of Vitalism
Organic compounds were
only those that came from
living organisms, and only
living things could
synthesize organic
compounds through
intervention of a vital force.
Development of Organic Chemistry

1816
Michel-Eugène Chevreul
- studied soaps and
demonstrated that it was
possible to form new
compounds from fats
without the aid of a ‘vital
force’
Development of Organic Chemistry

1828
Friedrich Wöhler
- discovered that urea
could be made by
evaporating an aqueous
solution of ammonium
cyanate
Development of Organic Chemistry

1858 and 1861

Friedrich August Kekulé
Archibald Scott Couper
Alexander Butlerov
- laid the basis for the
structural theory
Development of Organic Chemistry

Structural Theory
1. The atoms in organic
compounds can form a
fixed number of bonds
using their outermost
shell (valence) electrons.
Development of Organic Chemistry

Structural Theory
2. A carbon atom can use
one or more of its
valence electrons to form
bonds to other carbon
atoms.
Development of Organic Chemistry

1874
Jacobus Hendricus van’t Hoff
Joseph Achille Le Bel
- expanded the structural
formulas into three
dimensions.
Development of Organic Chemistry

1916
Gilbert Newton Lewis
Walther Kössel
- explained the nature of
chemical bonds.
Development of Organic Chemistry

1926
Erwin Schrödinger
Werner Heisenberg
Paul Dirac
- advanced the theory of
atomic and molecular
structure.
Natural or Synthetic?

“organic”
- still used today by some
people to mean ‘coming
from living things’
e.g. “organic vitamin”
- vitamin isolated from a
natural source and not
synthesized by a chemist
Natural or Synthetic?
“One half cup of the [guava] HO
fruit contains 188 mg of CH CH2OH
vitamin C.” O
- www.thedailygreen.com O CH
C
C C
OH
HO

www.newworldwinemakerblog.com
www.cleansemart.com
Significance of Organic Chemistry

Industrial Technology
- Paints
- Petroleum
- Dyes
- Textile
- Polymers
Significance of Organic Chemistry

Biology and Medicine

- Biomolecules
- Hormones
- Carcinogens
- Toxins
Significance of Organic Chemistry

Agriculture
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
Health and Nutrition
- Antioxidants
- Vitamins