Organic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry History

Glue this worksheet into a left-hand page of your science workbook.
Complete the answers to this worksheet on the right-hand page in your science workbook.

1. In 1770 the Swedish chemist Torbern Olaf Bergman was the first to
distinguish organic chemicals from inorganic chemicals. He described organic
chemicals as coming from living things.

a. Explain what is meant by the term inorganic chemicals.

b. Suggest where inorganic chemicals may be found in nature.
c. Three examples of common inorganic chemicals that you have
learned about this year are oxygen, water and carbon dioxide.
i. Write the chemical formula for each
ii. Draw the molecule for each Torbern Olaf
iii. Find the molecular mass for each. Bergman
1775

2. In 1828 the German chemist Friedrich Wöhler was the first chemist to
synthesise urea from the inorganic compound ammonium cyanate.

a. The chemical formula of ammonium cyanate is CH4N2O

The structural formula of ammonium cyanate is;

i. Explain what the letter symbols represent.

ii. Explain what the lines represent.
iii. Explain what the + and – signs mean in this formula. Friedrich Wöhler
iv. Use the information on the Periodic Table to calculate the 1856
molecular mass of ammonium cyanate. Show your working
out.

b. The chemical formula of urea is NH2CONH2

The structural formula of urea is;

i. Name the atoms found in the urea molecule.

ii. Use the information on the Periodic Table to calculate the
molecular mass of urea. Show your working out.
iii. Suggest where is urea is synthesised naturally.

The Study of Organic Chemistry

3. Today we may define organic chemicals as those that can be burned..
a. The combustion of organic chemicals produces carbon dioxide and water.
i. Another term for burning is combustion. Name the gas that is a reactant in
combustion reactions.
ii. If water and carbon dioxide are products of a combustion reaction between this
gas and an organic compound, suggest the atoms that would be present in all
organic molecules.

4. Locate the elements carbon and hydrogen on the Periodic Table.

a. Draw an atom of each and label it.
b. Label the parts of the atom.
c. Give the valency of carbon and hydrogen and explain the significance of this.
d. Calculate the atomic mass of carbon.
e. Calculate the atomic mass of hydrogen