Mordern Definition Of Organic Chemistry

Getting  Started

There are two main classes of chemical compounds, inorganic and organic. More than a century ago all substance then known were classified on the basis of source from which they were derived. The compounds which were of mineral origin were known as inorganic and those of vegetable or animal origin were called organic. For example, table salt, marble and carbon dioxide were inorganic whereas acetic acid (from vinegar), alcohol (from wine), tartaric acid (from grapes), citric acid (from lemons) and sucrose (from sugarcane) were organic.

It was assumed that the organic compounds could be produced only by living matter, for living matter was thought to possess a vital force.  As long as this concept prevailed no effort was made to produce organic compounds in the laboratory, and the vital force theory long went unchallenged.

Mordern definition of organic chemistry

Although the original meaning of the term organic chemistry no longer applies, it has been retained because of wide usage and also because so many of the substances involved in organic chemistry do come directly or indirectly from living matter. The modern definition may most simply be stated as: " Organic chemistry is defined as the study of carbon compounds. " however there are several exceptions: Carbon monooxide, Carbonates Thiocyanates, Carbon dioxide, Bicarbonates,  Carbon disulphide, cyanides, Carbides.

These compounds are studied as part of inorganic chemistry because of their properties.