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What is an organic compound?

Any molecule, or compound, that contains carbon atoms is referred to as “organic.” The usage of this term is a bit arbitrary, though, as some forms of carbon (like graphite and diamond) and carbon-containing ions (like formate and carbonate) are not thought of by chemists as “organic molecules.”

Where do I run into organic chemicals in my life?

The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the gasoline in your car, the plastic bags you may (or may not!) get at the grocery store…. The list could go on forever.

Why have chemists devoted so much focus to the chemistry of carbon?

Because it’s everywhere! Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe (fifteenth on our planet), and the building blocks of life (DNA, amino acids) all contain many carbon atoms. Many biologically active molecules and medicines rely on carbon to define their overall shape.

What was the first organic chemical ever synthesized in a lab?

Urea. In 1828 Friedrich Wöhler was trying to make ammonium cyanate (NH₄⁺CNO⁻), but this salt turned out to be unstable. It reacted to form urea, demonstrating for the first time (arguable according to some) that an organic chemical could be made from inorganic starting materials.