Definition of organic chemistry

Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and synthesis of organic compounds. Organic compounds are composed of carbon and hydrogen, and can possibly contain any of the other elements such as nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur.
History
Organic chemistry as a science is generally agreed to have started in 1828 with Friedrich Woehler's synthesis of the organic, biologically significant compound urea by accidentally evaporating an aqueous solution of ammonium cyanate NH4OCN.
Characteristics of organic substances
The reason that there are so many carbon compounds is that carbon has the ability to form many carbon chains of different lengths, and rings of different sizes (catenation). Many carbon compounds are extremely sensitive to heat, and generally decompose below 300°C. They tend to be less soluble in water compared to many inorganic salts. In contrast to such salts, they tend to be much more soluble in organic solvents such as ether or alcohol. Organic compounds are covalently bonded.