Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 1
Organic Structures
1.1 WHAT IS ORGANIC CHEMISTRY?
Over the past 70 years, organic chemistry has become a very broad and complex
subject. We see the results of this every day. There are new developments in
food, pharmaceuticals, synthetic materials, and other petrochemical products.
This progress is largely due to developments in modern instruments and theory.
As a result, we can better understand the basic factors that control the behavior
of organic compounds.
1
What is organic chemistry? New students usually answer: “The chemistry of car-
bon” or “The chemistry of life.” Both of these are good answers, but why exactly
can carbon play this special role?
1.2 WHAT MAKES CARBON SPECIAL?
Table 1.1
shows that carbon is one of the primary elements of life. Only carbon
is able to form molecules with enough complexity to support life.
How important is each element of life? It does not only depend on quantity. But
it does depend on the role it plays. For example,
Table 1.1
shows that the human
body has only a small amount of iron. However, iron is necessary for the hemoglo-
bin to carry oxygen in the blood. Iodine is needed for the thyroid to work properly.
Cobalt is part of vitamin B
12
. Zinc, copper, and manganese are present in various
enzymes. In each of these examples, there are many carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and
nitrogen atoms for each metal atom. However, without the
trace element
metals, it
is impossible for these compounds to carry out their biological functions.
There are more than 30 million carbon-based compounds that are known so far.
This number continues to grow every year. Why are carbon and its compounds
such an important part of chemistry?
Table 1.1
Composition of the Human Body
Element
% by weight
Element
% by weight
Oxygen
65
Sulfur
0.2
Carbon
18
Sodium
0.1
Hydrogen
10
Chlorine
0.1
Nitrogen
3
Magnesium
0.05
Calcium
2
Br, I
Traces
Phosphorus
1.1
Fe, Mg, Zn
Traces
Potassium
0.3
Cu, Co
Traces
