Organic chemistry is a chemistry subdiscipline involving the scientific study of the structure,

properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic materials, i.e., matter in its
various forms that contain carbon atoms.[1] Study of structure includes many physical and
chemical methods to determine the chemical composition and the chemical constitution of
organic compounds and materials. Study of properties includes both physical properties and
chemical properties, and uses similar methods as well as methods to evaluate chemical
reactivity, with the aim to understand the behavior of the organic matter in its pure form
(when possible), but also in solutions, mixtures, and fabricated forms. The study of organic
reactions includes probing their scope through use in preparation of target compounds (e.g.,
natural products, drugs, polymers, etc.) by chemical synthesis, as well as the focused study
of the reactivities of individual organic molecules, both in the laboratory and via theoretical
(in silico) study.

The range of chemicals studied in organic chemistry include hydrocarbons (compounds

containing only carbon and hydrogen), as well as myriad compositions based always on
carbon, but also containing other elements,[1][2][3] especially oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur,
phosphorus (these included in many organic chemicals in biology) and the radiostable
elements of the halogens.

In the modern era, the range extends further into the periodic table, with main group
elements, including:

Group 1 and 2 organometallic compounds, i.e., involving alkali (e.g., lithium, sodium, and
potassium) or alkaline earth metals (e.g., magnesium)
Metalloids (e.g., boron and silicon) or other metals (e.g., aluminium and tin)
In addition, much modern research focuses on organic chemistry involving further
organometallics, including the lanthanides, but especially the transition metals; (e.g., zinc,
copper, palladium, nickel, cobalt, titanium and chromium)

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Line-angle representation
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Ball-and-stick representation
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Space-filling representation
Three representations of an organic compound, 5-Dihydroprogesterone (5-DHP), a
steroid hormone. For molecules showing color, the carbon atoms are in black, hydrogens in
gray, and oxygens in red. In the line angle representation, carbon atoms are implied at every
terminus of a line and vertex of multiple lines, and hydrogen atoms are implied to fill the
remaining needed valences (up to 4).
Finally, organic compounds form the basis of all earthly life and constitute a significant part
of human endeavors in chemistry. The bonding patterns open to carbon, with its valence of
fourformal single, double, and triple bonds, as well as various structures with delocalized
electronsmake the array of organic compounds structurally diverse, and their range of
applications enormous. They either form the basis of, or are important constituents of, many
commercial products including pharmaceuticals; petrochemicals and products made from
them (including lubricants, solvents, etc.); plastics; fuels and explosives; etc. As indicated,
the study of organic chemistry overlaps with organometallic chemistry and biochemistry, but
also with medicinal chemistry, polymer chemistry, as well as many aspects of materials
science.[1]

Periodic table of elements of interest in organic chemistry. The table illustrates all elements
of current interest in modern organic and organometallic chemistry, indicating main group
elements in orange, and transition metals and lanthanides (Lan) in grey.