LESSON 1: Introduction to Organic Chemistry
INTRODUCTION:
The chemical literature claims about 18 to 20 million organic compounds. To name each
compound separately could turn away any student who is studying organic chemistry for the first time.
But don’t be discouraged. The millions of compounds can be grouped according to their structural
features forming a few dozen families that have similar chemical behaviour. Now that is a big relief, isn’t
it? It is even more comforting when you will see that compounds with similar names belong to the same
family and have common structural features.
In this module you will look at structures of different organic compounds, identify similarities
and differences, and identify the differentiating structural feature called functional group, which is the
key for grouping or classification.
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, with 80% accuracy, you should be able to:
1. identify functional groups based on structure;
2. classify organic compounds based on functional groups ;
3. classify organic compounds based on their names;
4. identify some sources of different organic compound; and
5. give some uses of different organic compounds.
TOPIC OUTLINE:
I. Functional Groups and Classes of Organic Compounds
II. Functional Groups and Names of Organic Compounds
III. Sources and Uses of Different Classes of Organic Compounds
TRY THIS
Activity I. The following are organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen. Carefully
study their names and structures and note their similarities and differences.
Name of Compound Molecular Structure Name of Compound Molecular Structure
Ethane CH3CH3 Propane CH3CH2CH3
Ethene CH2=CH2 Propene CH2=CHCH3
Ethyne HC≡CH Propyne CH3C≡CH
Q1. What relationships do you notice between:
a. the names and the number of carbons in the compound?
b. the names and the presence of a double bond between carbons?
c. the names and the presence of a triple bond between carbons?
d. the names and the presence of only single bonds between or among the carbons?
Activity 2. Carefully study the following organic compounds. Again, note any relationships
between the names and structures.
Name of Compound Molecular Structure Name of Compound Molecular Structure
Propane CH3CH2CH3 Butane CH3CH2CH2CH3
Propanol CH3CH2CH2OH Butanol
CH3CH2CH2CH2OH
Propanethiol CH3CH2CH2SH Butanethiol CH3CH2CH2CH2SH
Propanamine CH3CH2CH(NH2) Butanamine CH2CH2CH(NH2)
Propanoic Acid OH Butanoic Acid
CH3CH2C =O
Propanamide NH2 Butanamide NH2
CH3CH2C =O CH3CH2CH2C =O
Propanal H Butanal H
CH3CH2C =O CH3CH2CH2C =O
Propanone O Butanone O
CH3 C CH3 CH3 C CH2CH3
Q1. Does the relationship between the names and number of carbons in Activity 1 also exist in these
compounds?
Can you cite two or three examples?
Q2. Now look closely at what happened to the names and structures of the following pairs of
compounds.
What change(s) on the structure caused corresponding change(s) in the name?
Propane → propanol
Butane → butanol
Propane → propanethiol
Butane → butanethiol
Propane → propanoic acid
Butane → butanoic acid
Propane → Propanal
Butane → Butanal
If the changes are now evident and clear to you, go back to the table for Activity 2 and on each structure
encircle the atom or group of atoms that made the difference in the name of the compound. These atoms
or group of atoms are the functional groups of the compound.
Activity3. The following table lists the different classes of organic compounds and the corresponding
functional groups. Using the compounds that you have worked on in Activities 1 and 2, assign one
compound to each class by writing its name on the appropriate slot in the table.
Classes of Organic Compound Functional Group Name of Organic Compound
Alkanes - C—C -
Alkenes - C= C - Q 1. Do
Alkynes - C≡C- you see a
Alcohols -OH
Thiols - SH
Carboxylic Acids -COOH
Amides -CONH2
Aldehydes -CHO
Ketones -C=O
correlation between the name of the compound and the class to which it belongs?
READ AND PONDER
Organic compounds are classified based on a group of atoms called functional groups which
gives it characteristic properties and serves as a center of reaction of the molecule. The following are the
common classes of organic compounds
[Link]
THINK AHEAD
How did you find the activities? I hope you were challenged to find the relationships. By this
time, you shall have realized that organic compounds can be classified if we know its structure or if we
know its name. On the other hand, we can predict the functional group present in a compound if we know
its name. How about giving it a shot?
SEE IF YOU CAN DO THIS
The following are substances and compounds that we often encounter in our daily activities and
considerations. Test yourself if you can classify the compound and identify the functional group present.
Ready? You may open a dictionary if a substance is not familiar to you. Good luck!
Complete the table below:
Substance Class of Organic Functional group Source Use/Importance
Compound present
1. isooctane
2. cholesterol
3. glycerol
4. acetone
5. ether
6. citral
7. benzoic acid
[Link] ascorbate .
9. oil of wintergreen
10. acetic acid
11. acetylene gas
12. butane gas
