The term “organic chemistry” comes from the fact that this branch of chemistry began with the study of living organisms. Because the first molecules isolated from living organisms contained carbon, organic chemistry has been defined as the study of carbon-based compounds. Alcohols, sugars, gasoline, plastics, and detergents are all organic compounds. The study of carbon-based compounds is important because it helps us understand life and all of the chemical reactions that are related to life. In this course, we discuss carbon chemistry and carbon bonds, organic compound naming and drawing conventions, major classes of organic chemicals (alcohols, alkanes, etc.), basic types of organic reactions, and how spectroscopy can be used to reveal the molecular structure of organic molecules.
