Organic compound
An organic compound is a natural or artificial chemical compound that contains carbon. Chemists have not agreed on a single, precise definition, but most agree that the main feature of organic molecules is that carbon is the principal element, bonded to hydrogen and to other carbon atoms. Some compounds that contain carbon, such as carbonates, cyanides, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, are not counted as organic.[1] The study of carbon compounds is called organic chemistry.[2]
Where they are found
Every living thing is made of organic chemicals. According to the OpenStax textbook Organic Chemistry, these include the proteins in hair, skin and muscles, DNA, foods and medicines.[3] Most organic compounds are made by living things, but they can also form through geological processes or be made by people.[4] Organic compounds are important parts of plastics, soaps, perfumes, sweeteners, fabrics, medicines and many other everyday substances.[5]
Why there are so many
Carbon atoms can form up to four strong bonds with other carbon atoms. This lets them build chains and rings of many sizes and shapes, which is why there are so many different organic molecules.[6] In 2019, Chemistry 2e reported that the largest database of organic compounds listed about 10 million substances, and that the number of possible organic compounds had been estimated at 1060.[7]
Kinds of organic compound
The simplest organic compounds contain only carbon and hydrogen. They are called hydrocarbons.[8] Other organic compounds are grouped by their functional groups, the parts of a molecule that give it a particular chemical behaviour.[9]
History
The term organic chemistry dates from the mid-1700s, when it meant the chemistry of substances found in living things.[10] Early chemists thought these substances could not be made artificially. A widely held belief called vitalism said that organic compounds were made by a "vital force" found only in living things. In 1828 the German chemist Friedrich Wöhler reported the synthesis of urea, and Chemistry 2e describes him as one of the early chemists to challenge this idea.[11] Douglas McKie argued in a 1944 article in Nature that the idea that Wöhler's work ended vitalism is a legend, and that chemists went on believing in a vital force afterwards.[12] By the mid-1800s it was clear that there was no basic difference between organic and inorganic compounds, other than that organic compounds contain carbon.[13]
References
- ↑ "Chapter 20 Introduction". Chemistry 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
Some carbon-containing compounds are not classified as organic, for example, carbonates and cyanides, and simple oxides, such as CO and CO 2. Although a single, precise definition has yet to be identified by the chemistry community, most agree that a defining trait of organic molecules is the presence of carbon as the principal element, bonded to hydrogen and other carbon atoms.
- ↑ "1 Why This Chapter?". Organic Chemistry. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
Organic chemistry, then, is the study of carbon compounds.
- ↑ "1 Why This Chapter?". Organic Chemistry. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
Every living organism is made of organic chemicals. The proteins that make up your hair, skin, and muscles; the DNA that controls your genetic heritage; the foods that nourish you; and the medicines that heal you are all organic chemicals.
- ↑ "Chapter 20 Introduction". Chemistry 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
All organic compounds contain carbon and most are formed by living things, although they are also formed by geological and artificial processes.
- ↑ "Chapter 20 Introduction". Chemistry 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
Today, organic compounds are key components of plastics, soaps, perfumes, sweeteners, fabrics, pharmaceuticals, and many other substances that we use every day.
- ↑ "20.1 Hydrocarbons". Chemistry 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
The existence of so many organic molecules is a consequence of the ability of carbon atoms to form up to four strong bonds to other carbon atoms, resulting in chains and rings of many different sizes, shapes, and complexities.
- ↑ "20.1 Hydrocarbons". Chemistry 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
The largest database of organic compounds lists about 10 million substances, which include compounds originating from living organisms and those synthesized by chemists. The number of potential organic compounds has been estimated at 10 60
- ↑ "20.1 Hydrocarbons". Chemistry 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
The simplest organic compounds contain only the elements carbon and hydrogen, and are called hydrocarbons.
- ↑ "20.1 Hydrocarbons". Chemistry 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
The types of functional groups present in an organic molecule are major determinants of its chemical properties and are used as a means of classifying organic compounds
- ↑ "1 Why This Chapter?". Organic Chemistry. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
Historically, the term organic chemistry dates to the mid-1700s, when it was used to mean the chemistry of substances found in living organisms.
- ↑ "Chapter 20 Introduction". Chemistry 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
The widespread belief called vitalism held that organic compounds were formed by a vital force present only in living organisms. The German chemist Friedrich Wohler was one of the early chemists to refute this aspect of vitalism, when, in 1828, he reported the synthesis of urea
- ↑ McKie, Douglas (1944). "Wöhler's 'Synthetic' Urea and the Rejection of Vitalism: A Chemical Legend". Nature. 153. doi:10.1038/153608a0. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
THAT Wöhler synthetized urea in 1828 and there by rang the death-knell of vitalism in organic chemistry seems to be as firmly established a legend ... the facts are otherwise: there was no synthesis of urea, and chemists continued to assert the existence of vital force and to describe its role in the formation of organic substances.
- ↑ "1 Why This Chapter?". Organic Chemistry. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
By the mid-1800s, however, it was clear that there was no fundamental difference between organic and inorganic compounds. The only distinguishing characteristic of organic compounds is that all contain the element carbon.