Organic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that studies the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and synthesis of carbon-containing compounds.
Key points about it:
- It focuses on compounds that contain carbon atoms, often bonded to hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and halogens.
- Examples include hydrocarbons (like methane, benzene), biomolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids), polymers, pharmaceuticals, and many industrial chemicals.
- Central ideas in organic chemistry involve concepts like functional groups (alcohols, ketones, carboxylic acids, etc.), isomerism (compounds with the same formula but different structures), and reaction mechanisms (step-by-step processes of how reactions occur).
In short: Organic chemistry is often called the “chemistry of life” because it explains the molecular basis of living organisms and underlies much of medicine, biology, and materials science.