§1.1. The subject of organic chemistry

A Grade 10 chemistry topic: §1.1. The subject of organic chemistry (pp. 7–11, S. Moldogazieva, G. Imankulova, B. Kosobaeva). The substances known to science fall into two large groups, inorganic and organic. Atoms of carbon occur in every organic substance, and the atom of hydrogen is always found together with carbon. The elements that build the organic molecule are called organogens. The chemical bonds in organic substances are covalent, so they are not electrolytes; heated to 400–600°C they decompose and turn into carbon. In 1808 the Swedish chemist J. Berzelius proposed the names organic substances and organic chemistry. The vitalist teaching about a vital force was refuted by the syntheses of F. Woehler (oxalic acid in 1824, urea in 1828), A. Kolbe (1845), M. Berthelot (1854) and A. M. Butlerov (1862).