Organic compounds are chemical compounds that have carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Carbon’s catenating ability makes it possible to form millions of different types of compounds. These compounds include alkanes, carboxylic acids, and nucleic acids. Learn about these compounds and their properties. You may be surprised to learn that many substances found in nature are organic.
Carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds
In organic chemistry, carbon atoms can form covalent bonds with hydrogen atoms. Organic compounds that consist of only carbon and hydrogen are called hydrocarbons. One example of a hydrocarbon is methane (CH4). Methane contains one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. The structure of methane shows that the two carbon atoms share valence electrons. Therefore, the carbon atoms are placed at the ends and corners of the molecule.
The carbon-hydrogen bond is the most common chemical bond in organic compounds. It is stable and kinetically inert. Activation of the C-H bond requires the addition of an oxidant or metal complex. However, metal-free C-H transformations have been achieved with the use of peroxides, quinone derivatives, or hypervalent iodine compounds.
Carbon atoms can form single, double, or triple bonds with each other. The single and double bonds share two pairs of electrons, while the triple bond contains three pairs. Examples of compounds with different types of bonds are illustrated in the Figure below. The carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bond type is important in understanding the chemistry of organic compounds.
An alkane chain containing a double bond is called a parent chain. The parent chain is the longest and uses the same stem of an alkane. Propene, for example, has a double bond between the second and third carbon atoms.
Alkanes
Alkanes are organic compounds that contain a high carbon content. They can be classified as either monocyclic or polycyclic. The structure of an alkane is simple, with four sigma bonds linking hydrogen atoms to the carbon skeleton. Some alkanes are highly reactive, while others have very low levels of biological activity.
There are many different types of alkanes. One example is pentane, which consists of five carbon atoms and two methyl groups at each carbon atom. This is the simplest alkane and is used for fuel and as a solvent. Branched alkanes are more complex and have more than one isomer.
The boiling point of an alkane increases as the molecular weight increases. This is due to Van der Waals forces. However, they only work over short distances. As a result, even-numbered alkanes are less soluble in water than odd-numbered ones.
Alkanes have long, branched, or unbranched chains. Alkanes are generally named by the longest carbon chain, called the parent. Heptane, for example, is the longest chain, which is seven carbons long. Another metric for alkanes is the locant number. This number specifies the position of the CH3 (methyl) substituent in the parent chain. For example, a three-methylheptane is a derivative of heptane.
Alkanes are organic compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms arranged in tree-like structures. They are classified as either monocyclic or polycyclic, depending on their number of carbon atoms. In order to simplify the structure of an alkane, chemists use a form called a line-angle formula. This is faster and easier to draw than a condensed structural formula.
When alkanes have four carbon atoms, they exhibit structural isomerism. These compounds require special rules for name-giving.
Carboxylic acids
Carboxylic acids are organic compounds whose carbon atoms are bonded to each other via a double bond. They are very acidic. The acidity level of a carboxylic acid depends on the number of substituents on the carbon atom and the electronegative property of the carboxyl group. This chemical compound is most acidic when compared to alcohols, ketones, and phenols.
Carboxylic acids are derived from aldehydes or esters through hydrolysis. The strength of carboxylic acids depends on the electronegativity of the carbon atom in the R-carbon. They are usually used in combination with other organic compounds, such as salts, as buffers. Carboxylic acids also have many derivatives that are important in nature and in chemical synthesis. These include dicarboxylic acids, which have two carboxyl groups. Some of the most common examples of these compounds include ethanedioic acid, hexanedoic acid, and adipic acid.
Carboxylic acids are often called by their common names, which are older than their systematic names. Originally, most of these compounds were isolated from biological sources, and the structural formulas were unknown. Therefore, the names were derived from the name of the source. For example, butyric acid was isolated from butter, and its Latin name was butyrum. Other common names for carboxylic acids include sodium acetate, potassium butanoate, and ammonium formate.
Carboxylic acids are organic compounds with the carbonyl carbon attached directly to an alcohol or ether functional group. They can donate hydrogen to form a carboxylate ion. These chemical compounds have numerous applications in our everyday lives, ranging from soaps to medicines to textiles. Because of their unique molecular structure, they are easy to understand. By creating paper models, students can identify their structure and name the various molecules.
Nucleic acids
Nucleic acids are complex organic molecules that contain the genetic information of an organism. They are composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. These organic molecules are found in all living things, including plants, bacteria, and viruses. They can be found as monomers and polymers. The two most common types of nucleic acids are DNA and RNA.
Nucleic acids are large molecules. DNA is the largest of them all. The size of a single molecule of DNA ranges from just a few nucleotides to chromosome-sized strands of DNA. Human DNA contains almost 22,000 genes and is locked up in 46 chromosomes.
Proteins are another class of organic compounds. They are used by the body to generate energy. Because proteins have no storage sites, the body can use them for energy, but it will result in tissue breakdown and body wasting. However, proteins can be broken down into nucleotides, which can then be assembled into nucleic acids and used to create the energy compound adenosine triphosphate. These organic compounds are composed of carbon, phosphate groups, and pentose sugars.
Organic compounds are always composed of two or more elements, hydrogen and carbon. These elements combine to form carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Organic compounds consist of these elements in precise proportions. Some of the most common types of organic compounds are: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Organic macromolecules are found in all living things. Organic ones contain carbon, while inorganic ones do not contain carbon.
Lipids
Lipids are organic compounds that are insoluble in water and have the function of storing energy and forming cell membranes. They are also important signaling molecules. The structure of these molecules is quite varied. Some lipids have a large number of hydrogen bonds in their structure, and these are called hydrogenated fats.
Lipids are polar compounds that have hydroxyl groups. They share electrons equally between carbons and hydrogens and form long chains. The structure of these compounds is characterized by these polar groups. They also have different shapes. For instance, fatty acids are long chains of two carbons and one hydrogen.
Another type of lipid is wax. It is a hydrocarbon esters of long-chain fatty acids. It provides protection to plants. It covers the leaves of plants. It also protects the skin of the ear canal. It is also present in our hair and nails. However, the composition of lipids varies in different tissues.
The chemical structure of lipids is complex and differs according to the type. Some types are hydrophilic (they repel water), while others are hydrophobic. Lipoproteins and glycolipids contain fatty acids and carbohydrates. Other lipids are neutral, including hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and hormones.
Generally speaking, fatty acids are separated into two main classes. The first type is called saturated. This type contains the most amount of hydrogen atoms. The second type is called polyunsaturated. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have two or more double bonds and are liquid at room temperature.
Lipids are another class of organic compounds. As a result, they are generally composed of chains of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
