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• Organic chemistry is the study of properties, compositions, structures and reactions of chemical compounds containing carbon and hydrogen.

• Fast Facts

  1. Origins: 19th Century
  2. Main compounds studied: Carbon and hydrogen
  3. Other compounds of interest: nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorous

• Origins

  The history of organic chemistry dates back to the early 19th century when Michel Chevreul separated the acids that make up soap. By separating the individual compounds, he proved it was possible to produce new compounds without using vital force.cyberlipid.org: The Work of Chevreul

• Notable Discoveries

  In 1928, Friedrich Wohler converted ammonium cyanate into urea. This became known as the Wohler synthesis. In 1856, William Henry Perkin accidentally manufactured Perkin's mauve, an organic dye, while trying to synthesize the anti-malaria drug quinine. In 1858, August Kekule and Archibald Scott Couper suggested that a carbon lattice could be formed by the linking of tetravalent carbon atoms.scienceworld.wolfram.com: Friedrich Wohler Biographychemheritage.org: William Henry Perkin Biography

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Crystallography | Biology | Microbiology | Hydrogen | Atoms | Materials Science | Carbon | Botany | Ecology | Green Living | Going Green | Organic Food | Factory Farming | Biochemistry

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