*Organic chemistry* is the branch of chemistry that studies carbon-containing compounds. *Why carbon?* Carbon can form 4 bonds and link to itself in chains, rings, and branches. That makes millions of possible molecules. *What it covers:* - *Structure*: How atoms are connected in carbon compounds - *Reactions*: How they form, break, and change - *Synthesis*: Making new molecules like drugs, plastics, dyes - *Properties*: Why they smell, dissolve, or react the way they do *Main things it studies*: Hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, sugars, proteins, DNA, fuels, pharmaceuticals, plastics. Basically all the molecules of life + tons of man-made stuff. Originally "organic" meant "from living things," but we can make them in labs now too. Inorganic chemistry handles the rest — metals, salts, minerals without C-H bonds.
