Final answer:
Organic compounds are classified based on the functional groups such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, and more. The chemistry of carbon, with its four covalent bonds, allows for a vast array of complex molecules. The field of organic chemistry includes both natural and synthetic compounds containing carbon.
Step-by-step explanation:
Classification of Organic Compounds
Organic compounds are classified based on the presence of specific arrangements of atoms known as functional groups. One of the simplest classes of organic compounds is hydrocarbons, which consist entirely of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). Other classes include organic compounds that contain heteroatoms within their functional groups. Examples of heteroatoms often seen in organic compounds are oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and sulfur (S).
In addition to hydrocarbons which were introduced earlier, there are various classes of organic compounds such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and others, each defined by a characteristic functional group. These groups play a critical role in the properties and reactivity of the compounds.
As for the application and importance of organic compounds, they are found in daily products like plastics, soaps, perfumes, sweeteners, and pharmaceuticals, making organic chemistry a vital discipline. Understanding the chemistry of carbon is essential since the element's unique ability to form four covalent bonds allows for the creation of a vast array of complex molecules, underpinning the diversity of organic chemistry.
The history of organic chemistry dates back to the 18th and early 19th centuries when compounds derived from living organisms were termed organic, thought to contain a vital force. The vital force theory was debunked by Friedrich Wöhler's synthesis of urea, demonstrating that organic compounds could be made from inorganic materials, thereby abiding by the same natural laws as inorganic substances. Today, the field recognizes that organic compounds include a vast array of both natural and synthetic compounds containing carbon.