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Chemistry vocabulary · Organic Chemistry

Organic compound

Meaning in chemistry, with examples

nounCore term

In chemistry, organic compound means: A compound built mainly from carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen, often with oxygen, nitrogen or other elements. Fuels, plastics, drugs and most molecules of living things belong here.

In Turkish: organik bileşik

How it is used

The basic subject of organic chemistry courses and synthesis labs. Simple carbon compounds such as carbon dioxide, carbonates and cyanides are traditionally treated as inorganic. 'Volatile organic compounds' (VOCs) is a common term in environmental work.

Example sentences

  1. Most organic compounds burn in air to give carbon dioxide and water.

  2. Ethanol is an organic compound that mixes with water in any ratio.

Common collocations

  • volatile organic compound
  • simple organic compound
  • naming organic compounds
  • synthesize an organic compound
  • hydrocarbonA compound made of only carbon and hydrogen. Methane, propane, ethylene and benzene are examples, and crude oil is mostly a mixture of them.
  • functional groupA specific group of atoms within a molecule, such as –OH or –COOH, that gives the molecule its typical reactions. Compounds with the same group react in similar ways.
  • compoundA substance made of two or more different elements chemically joined in a fixed ratio. Water (H₂O) and table salt (NaCl) are common examples.
  • isomerOne of two or more compounds that have the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of atoms, and so have different properties. Butane and isobutane are an example.

More terms: Organic Chemistry

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