Organic Chemistry Introduction

Organic chemistry is the study of carbon-containing compounds and their properties. This vast, diverse field explores molecules of life and synthetic materials, underpinning many industries from pharmaceuticals to plastics.

Carbon's four valence electrons allow it to form strong covalent bonds with many elements, creating various structures including chains, rings, and 3D frameworks, a property unparalleled in the periodic table.

Functional groups are specific clusters of atoms within molecules that determine the characteristics and chemical reactions of compounds. Examples include hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, and phosphate groups.

Isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements. They can vastly differ in properties. Stereoisomers, a subtype, include enantiomers which are mirror images and crucial in drug design.

Organic reactions are categorized by the type of operation performed on the carbon skeleton. Notable types include addition, elimination, substitution, and rearrangement reactions, each critical for creating a variety of organic compounds.

Spectroscopic techniques like NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry provide insights into molecular structures. NMR spectroscopy, for instance, can differentiate between isomers based on the environment of hydrogen atoms.

Synthetic polymers, like plastics, are long chains of repeating units called monomers. Developed in the 20th century, they revolutionized materials science, with applications ranging from packaging to high-strength fibers.