Carbon and organic substances – basic principles
How it works
Carbon is a chemical element with the symbol C in the periodic table. A carbon atom can form four bonds in many compounds. This creates very many different molecules, especially through chain and ring formation. Organic chemistry deals mainly with carbon compounds, especially those that also often contain hydrogen and often oxygen, nitrogen or other elements. Typical organic substances are hydrocarbons, alcohols, carboxylic acids, sugars, fats and many plastics. However, there are also carbon-containing substances that are inorganic, for example carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonates, as well as the pure forms of carbon diamond and graphite.
Many organic substances are carbon compounds with hydrogen and often other elements. However, not every carbon compound is organic: For example, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonates and pure carbon are inorganic. The great variety of organic substances arises, among other things, because carbon can form four bonds and can form chains or rings.
An example
Why are there especially many different organic compounds?
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50 Exercises
To the learning unit →Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: Chemistry. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.