Some organic chemistry lessons-lesson 1

Organic Compounds:

Carbon has a special role because many carbon atoms can bond together to create many types of molecular compounds. (Bonding in ALMOST all of them is covalent)

Organic compounds: Always contain carbon and hydrogen, and sometimes oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorous, or a halogen (SON PH). Simplest one is CH_4.

Characteristics:

• Low melting and boiling points than inorganic compounds
• NOT soluble in water
• Less dense in water than inorganic compounds
• They are non-polar
• Bonding in ALMOST all of them is covalent

Ex of an organic compounds: vegetable oil

Rules for formulas of organic compounds

1. Formulas are written with carbon first, followed by hydrogen or other elements.
2. Carbon only forms covalent bonds and needs four of them.

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen.

1. In the electron-dot formulas for hydrocarbons, each shared pair of electrons represents a single covalent bond.
2. Expanded structural formulas are drawn to show the bonds between all the atoms.

Note: *Saturated hydrocarbons contain only single carbon-carbon bonds.

H-C structure is tetrahedral.