Organic Chemistry - Introduction
Description:
Organic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that is concerned with the study of carbon containing compounds.
Carbon possesses a unique property of catenation.
Catenation refers to the linkage of atoms of same element to form longer chains.
Carbon has high catenation tendency due to −
Tetravalency of carbon and small size.
p − orbitals which are much less diffuse as compared to d and f − orbitals.
Thus, these form longer p-p sigma bond while in heavy metals, due to the presence of diffused orbitals, multiple bonds are formed.
Thus, C − C bond is favoured and has high bond energy.
Only C − H,C − F,C − O bonds are stronger than C − C bonds.
Other elements that exhibit catenation are: Si,P,S.
Examples of carbon containing compounds which are not organic include: carbonates, cyanides, allotropes of carbon such as diamond and graphite.