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Chapter 19 — Chapter 19 — Basics of Organic Chemistry
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📘Easy summary
Today we are familiar with more than 20 million carbon containing compounds. IUPAC defines organic chemistry as 'the study of compounds containing carbon, where carbon is bonded to itself, hydrogen, or other elements excluding some inorganic compounds'. Carbonates, cyanides, CO₂ and CO are traditional inorganic compounds. Organic compounds have low m.p.s, b.p.s, low densities and low solubility in water. The ability of self-linkage between atoms of the same element is called catenation (Latin catena = chain). Carbon forms long chains and rings through stable C–C covalent bonds, and its tetravalent nature allows many arrangements; with four carbon atoms there are four different arrangements. Catenation explains why organic compounds are complex, with large structures and vast diversity.
⭐Key points
- Catenation = self-linkage of atoms of the same element.
- Strong C–C bonds + tetravalency give chains and rings.
- More than 20 million carbon compounds are known.
- CO, CO₂, carbonates, cyanides are treated as inorganic.
🔬Diagram
🌿Real-life example
Four carbon atoms can be arranged as a straight chain, a branched chain, a four-membered ring and a three-membered ring with a side carbon.
💡Exam tip
- Define catenation in one line and link it to tetravalency and C–C bond strength.
✅Quick check
1. Self-linkage of atoms of the same element is called:
2. Which is treated as inorganic?
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