Talk:Organic Chemistry/Alkanes

chaotic
May be we should change the explanantion of methane and ethane to a lower level, where these molecules are once again discussed. Also, indeed, alkanes are relatively useless.... One of their uses is in a cracking reactor; naphta (a mixture of alkanes distilled from crude oil) is literally cracked to give smaller unsaturated, more useful chemicals. 131.174.15.158 13:14, 29 June 2007 (UTC)

Preparation of Alkanes
I am an undergraduate student studying University Sophomore Level Organic Chemistry. Just noticed that nowhere in alkanes was their preperation methods,like wurtz synthesis,kolbe's electrolysis,etc. mentioned. I would like to add these,but I dont know where? If someone could start the section 'Prep of alkanes' I would like to contribute. New here,hope I can help -xC


 * I just looked through two modern organic chemistry textbooks I have and neither reaction is covered. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be, but I think it should probably come later. We'll probably cover conversion of alkyl-halides to alkanes via Grignard reagent in the Haloalkanes section. But generally, alkanes are what you don't want. There's not a lot you can do (at least in a controlled, laboratory way) with them, so they're chemically uninteresting. I'm not dismissing the idea. I'll definitely consider it. And if nothing else, I think the fact that they're not very useful in the laboratory is worth mention as well. But I don't know that adding it this early would make much sense, especially since the reactants in those reactions are more advanced structures that haven't been discussed yet. Perhaps in the chapters where we cover those classes of reactants and their reactions, it would make sense. -- Pete 14:54, 22 November 2006 (UTC)


 * Definitely. Wurtz Synthesis/Kolbe's Electrolysis do deserve mention, partly because they are mentioned in most places. :D Atleast, the more mechanisms we can demonstrate, the more easy it is for us to emphasize that all organic reactions happen in fragments of familiar steps.

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Definition of Organic
I noticed that the module currently states that for a compound to be organic it must contain both carbon and hydrogen. I just want to point out that the whole concept of organic vs. inorganic arose from a misconception that it was impossible to synthesize "organic" compounds from inorganic ones. We now know this is untrue. One example I can think of offhand is the photosynthesis of glucose, a reaction we probably learned in middle school, whereby water and carbon dioxide (both "inorganic") are used to C6H12O6, a simple sugar that is considered "organic" My point is that the definition of organic vs inorganic is somewhat artificial. My other point is that a few compounds considered "organic" do not contain hydrogen, due to substitution by halogen atoms. Carbon tetrachloride (or tetrachloromethane, if you prefer) comes to mind. I don't know the best way to explain this in the text, I'm just trying to raise the issue. WilliamJenkins09 03:48, 30 March 2007 (UTC)


 * It all goes back to Wohler's 1828 synthesis of urea from ammonium cyanate which demonstrated the organic molecules were nothing special. There's now a 'Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry' - what would the early chemists have made of that?!


 * On the other hand, organic chemicals do have many common properties and reactions which are unusual for inorganic substances, so it makes sense to split chemistry on inorganic/organic lines.


 * The definition of organic chemistry is muddled, but I usually tell students that all organic molecules contain carbon, but that a few carbon compounds are considered inorganic. (Carbon itself, carbonates, cyanide, cyanates, carbides, etc)


 * Ewen 06:06, 30 March 2007 (UTC)