Welcome to the world of chemistry!

INTRODUCTION

The word organic is another word that means different things to different people.To many people organic means “natural.” For example, gardeners sometimes talk about using organic fertilizer. What they mean is that they’re putting something natural on their plants instead of human-made, or synthetic fertilizers.

Organic means something completely different to chemists. In chemistry organic means “carbon-based.” To a chemist, an organic compound is any compound that contains carbon. That is any compound whose molecules contain carbon atoms. All living things are made of compounds containing mostly carbon, so lots of things that are “organic” to a gardener are also “organic” to a chemist.

Organic chemistry is that branch of chemistry that deals with structure, properties and reactions of carbon-containing compounds. It is a highly creative science. In understanding this form of chemistry, it is important to note that all organic molecules include not only carbon, but also hydrogen. While it is true that organic compounds can contain other elements, the bond between carbon and hydrogen is what makes a compound organic.

Beyond our bodies' DNA, peptides, proteins, and enzymes, organic compounds are all around us. They are central to the economic growth of the world especially in industries such as the rubber, plastics, fuel, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, detergent, coatings, and dyes. Organic compounds and their role in life processes are the foundations of biochemistry, biotechnology, and medicine. Several careers apply an understanding of organic chemistry, such as doctors, veterinarians, dentists, pharmacologists, chemical engineers, and chemists. Organic chemistry also plays a part in the development of common household chemicals, foods, plastics, drugs and fuels.