organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a fascinating field that deals with the compounds of carbon, one of the fundamental elements of life. Carbon is a remarkably versatile element that forms the basis for an immense variety of molecules that play a central role in living organisms, but also in technology and industry.
Compared with inorganic compounds, organic compounds are considerably more numerous, with an estimated 4 to 6 million molecules. This is due to the unique ability of carbon to form stable covalent bonds with itself and other elements, which leads to an almost endless variety of chemical structures. This variety ranges from simple hydrocarbons such as methane and ethylene to complex molecules such as proteins, DNA and medicines.