INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS ORGANIC CHEMISTRY?
• Organic chemistry is the chemistry of carbon compounds.
• Organic compounds contain H as well as C, while other common elements are O, N, the halogens, S and P.
• There are many varieties of organic compounds ( more than 10 millions!!!)
• They may exist as simple or complex molecules; as gases, liquids or solid and coloured or colourless.
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
WHY MANY ORGANIC COMPOUNDS?
• All organic compounds consist of carbon atom.
• Properties of carbon atom:
-has 4 valence electrons; can form 4 covalent bonds.
- variety of bonds: single, double & triple
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| single, double and triple bond |
-strong covalent bonds; stable compounds.
- can form short or long linear chains, branched chains & cyclic compounds.
• Many organic compounds are non-reactive because non–polar/slightly polar.
