Class notes chem121 Hydrocarbon Chemistry

Unit 1
HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY


Contents

1.0 Introduction
2.0 Learning Outcomes
3.0 Learning Contents
3.1 Vital force theory
3.2 Synthesis of Urea
3.3 Importance of organic Chemistry
4.0 Conclusion
5.0 Summary
6.0 Tutor Assessment Exercise
7.0 Reference

, 1.0 Introduction

Organic Chemistry is the study of carbon and its compounds. A number of organic compounds
were used in ancient times by the Romans and Egyptians as dyes, medicines and poisons from
natural sources, though at that time their structures were not known.

2.0 Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
1. State the vital force theory and the year
2. Explain the synthesis of Urea
3. List the importance of organic chemistry

3.0 Learning Content


3.1 Vital Force

In 1815, Jons Jacob Berzelius believed in an idea of vitalism (that natural organic compounds were
made by a special vital force and therefore came to the conclusion that organic compounds could
not be made in the laboratory).
The theory states that all organic compounds are produced from living organisms due to the
presence of a vital force. .
Self-Assessment Question(s) (SAQ)
1. Who propounded vital force and in which year?




Self-Assessment Answers
Vital force theory was propounded by Jons Jacob Berzelius in 1815