Characteristics of organic compounds

Characteristics of organic compounds:

All organic compounds have the following characteristic properties.

1. They are covalent compounds of carbon and generally insoluble in water and readily soluble in organic solvent such as benzene, toluene, ether, chloroform etc...

2. Many of the organic compounds are inflammable (except CCl₄).They possess low boiling and melting points due to their covalent nature

3. Organic compounds are characterised by functional groups. A functional group is an atom or a specific combination of bonded atoms that react in a characteristic way, irrespective of the organic molecule in which it is present. In almost all the cases, the reaction of an organic compound takes place at the functional group. They exhibit isomerism which is a unique phenomenon.

4. Homologous series: A series of organic compounds each containing a characteric functional group and the successive members differ from each other in molecular formula by a CH₂ group is called homologous series. Eg.

Alkanes: Methane (CH₄), Ethane (C₂H₆), Propane (C₃H₈) etc..

Alcohols: Methanol (CH₃OH), Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) Propanol (C₃H₇OH) etc..)

Compounds of the homologous series are represented by a general formula Alkanes C_nH_2n+2, Alkenes C_nH_2n, Alkynes C_nH_2n-2 and can be prepared by general methods. They show regular gradation in physical properties but have almost similar chemical property.