TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > Chemistry > Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Organic compounds are ones which contain carbon. Usually, they are composed of carbon and hydrogen, and sometimes oxygen and nitrogen, but they can contain other elements as well. There are series of organic compounds which have a general formula with a functional group - a group of atoms which determine the reactions of the molecule.
Nomenclature
The method for naming organic compounds is to:
(Very long explanation, incl. tables etc)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16618232/02-Organic-Nomenclature-
this website explains all the steps needed
Hazards and Risks
A hazard is the situation which could become dangerous; a risk is the chance of the hazard occurring. When dealing with hazardous chemicals, it is necessary to carry out a risk assessment in order to see of the hazard can be avoided, and, if not, how the risk can be reduced. Organic compounds have hazards which come with working with them - for example, they are flammable and could cause a fire/explosion. The risk of working with organic compounds can be reduced by:
- Working on a smaller scale
- Taking specific precautions or alternative techniques
- Using a different, less hazardous method for a reaction
