Organic Chemistry Introduction

Organic chemistry is more than simply the study of carbon or the study of chemicals in living organisms. Organic chemistry is everywhere.

What Organic Chemistry Is

Organic chemistry is the study of carbon and the study of the chemistry of life. Since not all carbon reactions are organic, another way to look at organic chemistry would be to consider it the study of molecules containing the carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bond and their reactions.

At NCBiotech, we see it as science involving cells and their components, products and processes. Biology, medicine and agriculture are the most obvious examples of the discipline. However, as science becomes ever more complex, it is more difficult to find clear definitions and boundaries.

What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology is the most prominent component of the life sciences. Simply put, biotechnology is a toolbox that leverages our understanding of the natural sciences to create solutions for many of our world problems. We use biotechnology to grow food to feed our families and to make medicines and vaccines to fight diseases. We are even turning to biotechnology to find alternatives to fossil-based fuels for a cleaner, healthier planet.

Brewing BiotechCatalysts are the unsung heroes of the chemical reactions that make human society tick. A catalyst is some material that speeds up chemical reactions. With a helping hand from a catalyst, molecules that might take years to interact can now do so in seconds. Factories rely on catalysts to make everything from plastic to drugs. Catalysts help process petroleum and coal into liquid fuels. They’re key players in clean-energy technologies. Natural catalysts in the body — known as enzymes — even play important roles in digestion and more.

Transition metals are any of various metallic elements such as chromium, iron and nickel that have valence electrons in two shells instead of only one. A valence electron refers to a single electron that is responsible for the chemical properties of the atom. Transition metals are good metal catalysts because they easily lend and take electrons from other molecules. A catalyst is a chemical substance that, when added to a chemical reaction, does not affect the thermodynamics of a reaction but increases the rate of reaction.

Effect of Catalysts

But the compounds that won the vote aren’t just any old solvent; they’re probably some of the most fascinating liquids on the planet, not made from individual atoms, but entirely from anions and cations. That means these liquids are essentially salts, and that – at least according to high school science textbooks – means they should form nice solid lattice structures, not be liquid at room temperature. Enter ionic liquids. Here’s Jason Bara, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Alabama.

Jason Bara