1. PBS video on carbon Episode 1
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007

2. Organic compounds contain C,H and sometimes O,N and other non-metals.
Organic compounds have covalent bonds
Every living thing contains carbon and it therefore organic but not all organic compounds are from living things.
Inorganic compounds are compounds that do not have carbon.
See pages
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3. Inorganic Molecule containing carbon (NOT ORGANIC)
Not all compounds that contain carbon are organic:
CaCO3 and NaCO3 (carbonates)
Al4C and SiC ( Carbides)
CO, CO2 (oxides)
Organic molecules always have C before H in their formulas.
This differentiates organic compounds from acids,
which almost always start with H.

4. (c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007

5. Carbon has four electrons in its valence shell, which allows for
Carbon is unique
Carbon has four electrons in its
valence shell, which allows for
more chemical bonding
possibilities than any
other element.
Long chains of carbons form
petroleum and plastics.
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6. Examples of Carbon
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7. Classifying Organic Compounds
The simplest class of organic compounds contain only carbon and hydrogen are called HYDROCARBONS (alkanes)
The simplest hydrocarbon is methane (CH4), followed by ethane (C2H6),
propane (C3H8),
butane (C4H10), and
pentane (C5H12).
All hydrocarbons are flammable,
most are liquids at room temperature.
Coal, petroleum and natural gas
are the most common natural source
of hydrocarbons

8. Alcohols
An organic compound that contains C,H, and O

9. Sorting Out Organic Compounds
There are several ways to write organic compounds
Name
Methane
Ethane
Propane
Chemical Formula
CH4
C2H4
C3H6
Condensed Structural formula
CH3CH3
CH3CH2CH3
Structural Formula
Ball-and-stick Structure

10. Alcohols are organic compounds with C, H, and O.
The simplest alcohols are methanol (CH4O), ethanol (C2H6O), and isopropyl alcohol (C3H8O).
Alcohols are very good solvents (they dissolve other substances).
Alcohols are generally very flammable.
Methanol is a good solvent (dissolves many substances water cannot)
Ethanol found in beverages, fuel additives, medicines, plastics
Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) – disenfectant, cleaner for contact pins in electronic devices, solvent.
Methanol, ethanol and isopropanol are highly flammable
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11. (c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007

12. Ted Ed Teflon
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007