Organic Chemistry Basics

Organic Chemistry

• Study of carbon-containing compounds and their properties
• Carbon has the ability to form long chains and rings, making it a fundamental element in living organisms
• Organic compounds can be found in all forms of life, including plants, animals, and microorganisms
• Properties of organic compounds:
  • Low melting and boiling points
  • Poor conductors of electricity
  • Generally insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents
  • Can be combustible

Allotropes of Carbon

• Different forms of carbon, each with unique properties
• Common allotropes of carbon:
  1. Diamond:
     • Hardest naturally occurring substance
     • High melting and boiling points
     • Good electrical insulator
  2. Graphite:
     • Soft and slippery
     • Good conductor of electricity
     • High melting point
  3. Fullerenes:
     • Molecules composed of 60-70 carbon atoms
     • Hollow, spherical or cylindrical shape
     • Can be used in nanotechnology
  4. Carbon Nanotubes:
     • Long, thin tubes of carbon atoms
     • High strength-to-weight ratio
     • Used in nanotechnology and materials science
  5. Amorphous Carbon:
     • Non-crystalline, irregular structure
     • Found in charcoal, soot, and carbon black

IUPAC Nomenclature

• System of naming organic compounds developed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
• Rules for naming organic compounds:
  • Identify the parent hydrocarbon chain
  • Identify and name any substituents (branches) attached to the parent chain
  • Number the parent chain to indicate the location of substituents
  • Use prefixes and suffixes to indicate functional groups (e.g. -OH, -COOH)
• Examples of IUPAC names:
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Ethane (C2H6)
  • Propane (C3H8)
  • Butane (C4H10)
  • Pentane (C5H12)