Classification Methods For Organic Chemicals

There are various types of organic matter, which can be divided into two categories: hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives. According to the carbon framework structure of organic molecules, they can also be divided into three categories: open chain compounds, carbon ring compounds, and heterocyclic compounds. According to the different functional groups contained in organic molecules, they can be further divided into alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, phenols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, and so on.
According to the skeleton of carbon
1. Chain like compounds
The carbon atoms in these compound molecules are interconnected into chains, and they are also called aliphatic compounds because they were originally discovered in fats. Its structural feature is that carbon is connected to carbon in an open chain.
2. Cyclic compound
A cyclic compound refers to a compound in which the atoms in a molecule are arranged in a circular pattern. Cyclic compounds are further divided into alicyclic compounds and aromatic compounds.
(1) Lipocyclic compounds: Compounds with rings that do not contain aromatic rings (such as benzene rings, fused rings, or some heterocycles with benzene or fused ring properties). Such as cyclopropane, cyclohexene, cyclohexanol, etc.
(2) Aromatic compound: A compound with aromatic rings (such as benzene rings, fused rings, or some heterocycles with benzene or fused ring properties). Such as benzene, homologues and derivatives of benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and derivatives, pyrrole, pyridine, etc.
By constituent elements
1. Hydrocarbons. Organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen are called hydrocarbons, abbreviated as hydrocarbons. Such as methane, ethylene, acetylene, benzene, etc. Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon.
2. Derivatives of hydrocarbons. A series of compounds formed by the substitution of hydrogen atoms in hydrocarbon molecules by other atoms or atomic groups are called hydrocarbon derivatives. Such as halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, amino acids, nucleic acids, etc.
By functional group
Functional group: The atoms or atomic groups that determine the special properties of a compound are called functional groups or functional groups. Compounds containing the same functional groups have essentially the same chemical properties. Common functional groups include carbon carbon double bonds, carbon carbon triple bonds, hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, ether bonds, aldehyde groups, carbonyl groups, etc.
Homologous compounds: Organic compounds with similar structures and differences in molecular composition between one or several "CH ₂" atomic groups are called homologous compounds. And it must be the same type of substance (containing the same and equal number of functional groups, except for hydroxyl groups, where phenol and alcohol cannot become homologues, such as phenol and benzyl alcohol). Due to similar structures, the chemical properties of homologues are similar; Their physical properties often change regularly with the increase of molecular weight.