the.com/organic chemistry
the study of carbon showing off, because one atom decided four bonds wasn't enough drama
means the branch of chemistry dealing with carbon-containing compounds and how they bond, react, and build the molecules of life.
from coined when chemists believed organic compounds needed a mystical vital force to exist, until wohler synthesized urea from inorganic salts in 1828 and accidentally proved everyone wrong.
wohler's accidenttried to make ammonium cyanate, made urea instead
premed filterfamously weeds out more majors than any other class
carbon compoundsover 10 million known, more than all other elements combined
same atomsdiamond and graphite differ only in bond arrangement
for instance
wohler synthesis — 1828, killed vitalism by making urea in a lab
kekule's benzene dream — 1865, snake biting its tail revealed the ring structure
woodward's total synthesis — harvard chemist built vitamin b12 atom by atom, 1972
aspirin synthesis — bayer chemist hoffmann stabilized salicylic acid in 1897