Carbon is an inseparable element in human life. Food, medicines, clothes, fuels, paint and cosmetics all contain carbon compounds. There are more than 5 million compounds of carbon. The unique nature of carbon – catenation, tetravalency and multiple bonding – lets it combine with itself or with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, etc. All these compounds are made of covalent bonds and are called organic compounds.
1. General Characteristics of Organic Compounds
- High molecular weight, complex structure; highly inflammable and volatile.
- Mostly insoluble in water; soluble in organic solvents (ether, carbon tetrachloride, toluene).
- Less reactive than inorganic compounds (slower reactions); lower melting and boiling points.
- They exhibit isomerism – a single molecular formula represents several organic compounds that differ in their physical and chemical properties.