Rucete ✏ Chemistry In a Nutshell
1. What Are Organic Compounds?
- Organic compounds are primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen, often with oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and halogens.
- Some carbon-containing compounds like carbides (e.g., SiC), carbonates (e.g., CaCO₃), and oxides of carbon (e.g., CO₂) are not considered organic.
2. Key Properties of Organic Compounds
- Low melting and boiling points: Most organic compounds are molecular (not ionic) and exhibit weak intermolecular forces.
- Non-polar or weakly polar: Especially true for hydrocarbons and compounds with non-polar functional groups.
- Poor conductors of electricity: Neutral organic compounds don’t ionize in water and therefore don’t conduct electricity.
- Solubility:
- Small, polar organic compounds (like alcohols and carboxylic acids) may be soluble in water.
- Larger organic compounds are usually insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents.
3. Carbon Chain Length and Solubility
- 1–6 carbon atoms: Often soluble in water (if they have polar groups).
- 7–12 carbon atoms: Moderately soluble or insoluble in water.
- 13+ carbon atoms: Generally insoluble in water.
4. Organic Polymers
- Large molecules formed from smaller units called monomers.
Examples:
- Proteins: polymers of amino acids
- Starch: polymer of glucose
- Plastics: derived from crude oil, include:
- Polyethylene: from ethylene (ethene)
- Polypropylene: from propylene (propene)
- Polystyrene: from styrene
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Chemistry in a nutshell