THE ORIGIN OF ORGANIC

CHEMISTRY
The term "organic chemistry" was introduced in 1807 by Jöns Jacob Berzelius, to study
compounds derived from natural resources. It was believed that compounds related to
life possessed a "vital force" that made them different from inorganic compounds, in
addition to being he considered impossible the preparation in the laboratory of an
organic compound, which had been achieved with inorganic compounds.

In 1823, Friedrich Wöhler completed his medical studies in Germany and traveled to

Stockholm to work under the supervision of Berzelius. UreaIn 1928,

Wöhler observed when evaporating a solution of ammonium cyanate, the formation of
large colorless crystals, which did not belong to ammonium cyanate.
The analysis of the same determined that it was urea. The transformation observed by
Wöhler converts an inorganic compound, ammonium cyanate, into an organic
compound, urea, isolated from the urine of animals.
This experiment was experimental confirmation that organic compounds can also be
synthesized in the laboratory.

WHAT DOES ORGANIC

CHEMISTRY STUDY?
Organic chemistry is the scientific discipline that studies the structure, properties,
synthesis and reactivity of chemical compounds formed mainly by carbon and
hydrogen, which may contain other elements, generally in small amounts such as
oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, halogens, phosphorus, silicon. .

The term "organic" comes from the relationship between these compounds and vital
processes, however, there are many compounds studied by organic chemistry that are
not present in living beings, while numerous inorganic compounds are part of basic
vital processes, mineral salts, metals such as iron that is present in hemoglobin….

11-cis-retinal
Organic compounds have a huge variety of properties and applications and are the
basis of numerous basic compounds in our lives, among which we can mention:
plastics, detergents, paints, explosives, pharmaceuticals, dyes, insecticides......

The synthesis of new molecules provides us with new dyes to color our clothes,

new Benomyl - Fungicideperfumes, new medicines with

which to cure diseases. Unfortunately there are organic compounds that have caused
significant damage, pollutants such as DDT, drugs such as Thalidomide. But from my
point of view the balance of this scientific discipline is more than positive, to the point
of being impossible the current standard of living without their contributions.