Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry is the study of specific carbon compounds except the

oxide, carbonates, bicarbonates and metallic carbides.

Organic Compounds Inorganic Compounds

Solids, liquids or gases Solids

Covalent compounds Ionic compounds

Low melting and boiling point High melting and boiling point
Insoluble in water Soluble in water
Soluble in organic compouds Insoluble in organic compounds

Non-conductors of electricity Good conductors of electricity

Combustible Non-combustible

Volatile Non-volatile

Exhibits isomerism and catenation Does not exhibit isomerism and

catenation
Catenation
The tendency of an atom to form chains of identical atoms.
Catenation is maximum in carbon since the value of C-C bond energy is
maximum and also carbon has a smaller atomic size and high
electronegativity.
Carbon forms 4 covalent bonds by mutually sharing 4 electrons with other
atoms.
Carbon is hence tetravalent or exhibits tetravalency.

Isomers
Organic compounds having the same molecular formula but different
structural formula are called isomers and the property is called isomerism.

Types of Isomerism —
1. Chain isomerism - It is due to difference in arrangement of C atoms in the
chain.

Eg. H3C — CH2 — CH2 — CH3 H3C — CH — CH3

Butane [n-butane] |
CH3
2-methyl propane [iso-butane]
2. Position isomerism - It is due to the diference in position of functional
group. Eg. ‘=’ bond, — OH group, — COH group, — COOH group.

Eg. H3C — CH2 — CH = CH2 H3C — CH = CH — CH3

1- Butene [but-1-ene] 2- Butene [but-2-ene]

Classification of Organic Compounds

• Open chained compounds (aliphatic)

Hydrocarbons

Saturated Unsaturated
i) Alkanes i) Alkenes
ii) Alkynes

• Closed chain compounds (cyclic)

Homocyclic Heterocyclic
 Saturated Organic Compounds Unsaturated Organic Compounds

They contain carbon atoms joined by a They contain carbon atoms joined by a
single covalent bond double covalent bond C = C
C—C or a triple covalent bond C = C
The valencies of atleast 2 carbon atoms
All the 4 valencies of each carbon atom
are not fully satisfied by hydrogen
are fully satisfied by hydrogen atoms.
atoms.

Non-availability of electrons makes Availability of electrons makes them

them less reactive. more reactive.

Less reactive, therefore they undergo More reactive, therefore they undergo
substitution reactions. addition reactions.
Homologous series
It is a series of organic compounds in which each successive member differs
from its previous one by a CH2 group.
In homologous series the chemical properties of the compound remains the
same whereas the physical properties of the compound changes.
Eg. Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes.
 Alkanes Alkenes Alkynes

Unsaturated
Saturated hydrocarbons Unsaturated hydrocarbons
hydrocarbons

Contains a single covalent Contains a double covalent Contains a triple covalent

bond bond bond
C—C C=C C=C

CnH2n+2 CnH2n CnH2n-2

Methane - CH4 — —
Ethane - C2H6 Ethene - C2H4 Ethyne - C2H2
Propane - C3H8 Propene - C3H6 Propyne - C3H4
Butane - C4H10 Butene - C4H8 Butyne - C4H6