Organic Chemistry Overview, Definition & Examples

Organic chemistry is a subfield within chemistry that is interested in understanding organic compounds. Organic compounds are those that contain both carbon and hydrogen atoms (and sometimes other elements). Organic compounds are highly diverse and can include natural and synthetic materials. Organic chemistry is also described by many subbranches. Medical chemistry is the subbranch of organic chemistry that is interested in understanding and producing compounds that provide medicinal benefits. Organometallic chemistry investigates organic compounds that contain metal and metalloid atoms. Polymer chemistry explores organic compounds that are composed of repeating chains. Physical organic chemistry explores the physical properties of organic compounds with a variety of tools, while stereochemistry explores the three-dimensional properties of organic compounds.

Organic compounds can be classified in many ways but are generally classified as either acyclic compounds or cyclic compounds. Acyclic compounds appear branched, and cyclic compounds appear to have rings. Both of these categories can be broken down further into subcategories. While the term "organic chemistry" was not officially described until the early 1800s, curious minds have explored the properties of organic compounds since as early as the Middle Ages. Organic chemistry is an important field that has produced many common materials used today including ethanol, acetone, propane, and petroleum.