Chapter One: General Principles of Organic Chemistry PDF

# Chapter One: General Principles of Organic Chemistry ## Meaning of Organic Chemistry Organic chemistry is the study of carbon and its numerous compounds excluding oxides of carbon and carbonates. Elements which combine with carbon to give the various organic compounds are hydrogen, nitrogen, oxy...

# Chapter One: General Principles of Organic Chemistry ## Meaning of Organic Chemistry Organic chemistry is the study of carbon and its numerous compounds excluding oxides of carbon and carbonates. Elements which combine with carbon to give the various organic compounds are hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulphur and the halogens such as chlorine, bromine, fluorine and iodine etc. Carbon is a Group IV element. It is actually the first element in the group. Its electronegativity is such that when it combines with other elements, the bonds are essentially covalent in nature, although, there might be different degrees of polarity in such bonds. ## The Uniqueness of the Carbon Atom Carbon is unique in the following respects: 1. The great number of carbon compounds that exist. 2. Ability of the carbon atom to form bonds with other atoms of its kind. The resulting bonds are very stable and unreactive at normal temperature, moisture, light and air conditions. The bonds can be single, double or triple, depending on the class of organic compound. Long chain or ring compounds can thus be formed. This is called catenation. Catenation is the ability to form chains of identical carbon atoms. These chains may be short or long; open systems or may be closed ring systems. 3. Carbon has a valency greater than 2. The maximum valency of carbon is 4. 4. Stability of half-filled shell. ## Classification of Organic Compounds Organic compounds may be classified into two main types: 1. Aliphatic compounds 2. Aromatic compounds The aliphatic ones are those with open chain structures or .