Organic molecule is a scientific term used to describe a molecule that is composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The spelling of this term is phonetically represented as /ɔːˈɡænɪk ˈmɒljəkjuːl/. The IPA transcription for "organic" is /ɔːˈɡænɪk/, while "molecule" is transcribed as /ˈmɒljəkjuːl/. The word "organic" is derived from the Greek word "organikos", meaning related to an organ or instrument. The term "molecule" is derived from the Latin word "molecula", meaning a small mass.
An organic molecule is a chemical compound that contains carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms, and often other elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus. These molecules are the building blocks of life and are the basis of all organic chemistry.
The term "organic" refers to the fact that these molecules are derived from living organisms or contain carbon, which is an essential element for life. Organic molecules are found in a wide range of biological processes and substances. They form the basis of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, the essential macromolecules found in living organisms.
Organic molecules are known for their diverse structures and functions. They can exist as simple molecules, such as methane (CH4), or complex structures like DNA. Their properties and behavior are determined by the arrangement and types of atoms they contain, as well as the types of chemical bonding between these atoms.
The study of organic molecules, known as organic chemistry, plays a crucial role in understanding biological processes, drug discovery, and the development of new materials. Organic chemists continuously explore and create new organic molecules with unique properties and functions. These molecules have applications in medicine, agriculture, energy production, and various other industries.
Overall, organic molecules are the fundamental constituents of life, exhibiting incredible diversity in structure and function, and they play a central role in numerous scientific disciplines and everyday applications.
The word "organic" is derived from the Greek word "organikos", meaning "of or pertaining to an organ". In ancient Greek, "organon" referred to any instrument or tool used for a specific purpose. The term "organic" was initially used to describe substances derived from living matter, specifically those found in plants and animals.
The word "molecule" comes from the Latin word "molecula", a diminutive form of "moles", meaning "mass" or "barrier". It was first used in the context of chemistry in the late 18th century to refer to the smallest unit of a compound that retains its chemical properties.
Therefore, the term "organic molecule" combines the Greek term "organic", indicating a substance derived from living matter, and the Latin term "molecule", referring to the smallest unit of a compound.