Why is Organic Chemistry Important in Everyday Life?
Organic chemistry is a branch of chemistry that focuses on the study of carbon-containing chemical compounds. So what is the importance of organic chemistry? This specialty is of great importance in the modern world due to its wide application in various fields, such as medicine, food industry, energy and technology.
Organic chemistry plays an essential role in our daily lives, since organic compounds are essential in many products and materials used daily. These compounds are the basis of foods, medicines, fuels, plastics and many other products that improve and make our lives easier.
Let's explore the importance of organic chemistry in our lives.
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| Uses of Organic Chemistry |
The Importance of Organic Chemistry in Our Lives
Organic chemistry is one of the most important life sciences as it is concerned with the study of life and all the reactions that occur in life.
Organic chemistry is indispensable on a daily basis in the lives of individuals, as it is used in the manufacture of many foods, plastics, household chemicals, medicines, and in the development of fuel as well.
Organic chemistry is not just the study of carbon or chemicals in living materials, but it is involved in all aspects of life.
Knowledge of organic chemistry is vital not only to understand the composition and functioning of these materials, but also to foster innovation and develop new technologies and applications that continue to improve the quality of human life.
Most of the materials that are used in daily life are classified as organic materials.Therefore, the importance of organic chemistry appears in several areas of daily life.
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Examples of Organic Chemistry in Everyday Life
There are several fields in which organic chemistry is widely used and is based on its equations. Below are the most important areas of application of organic chemistry in practical life:
Medical sciences
The pharmaceutical industry is based on the production, development and marketing of medicines in the markets, whether those medicines are used for humans or animals.
Medical science is the main application of organic compounds, and they are used in the pharmaceutical industry, as most of the drugs used to treat diseases are made from organic materials. Accordingly, organic chemistry is used to study the chemistry of the drug and attempts to make it soluble in water and easy to transport in the body's tissues, in addition to making it safe by reducing the toxic substances in it. Organic chemistry is also used in the pathophysiology of diseases.
Organic chemical industries
The idea of organic industrial chemistry is to transform raw materials such as oil, natural gas, water, air, and minerals into compounds that can be better consumed and exploited. Therefore, organic industrial chemistry has an important role in the modern economy.
The current trend in this science revolves around how to convert renewable materials such as water, air, and plants, instead of relying exclusively on oil and natural gas as it was in the past. This is because they are materials with limited, non-renewable resources.
The most prominent of these industrial applications in organic chemistry are: rubber and plastic products, textiles and clothing, oil refining, primary metals, pulp and paper.
Examples of industrial sectors in organic chemistry include:
- Rubber and plastic products.
- Clothes and textiles.
- Petroleum refining.
- Primary minerals.
- Pulp and paper.
Biotechnology
Organic chemistry is the basis of every biotechnology product. Through biotechnology, products are created or modified for a specific purpose. This is done by employing living organisms or biological processes for this purpose.
Examples of biotechnology applications include health care, crop production and agriculture, and are also used in non-food crops, thermal fuels, and the environmental sector.
Environmental engineering
The importance of organic chemistry in environmental engineering helps to develop effective and sustainable solutions. In a world where environmental challenges are increasingly complex, knowledge and application of organic chemistry is essential. Organic chemistry provides the tools to analyze chemical compounds, understand their chemical and physical properties, and determine how they interact with the environment.
Environmental remediation involves the cleanup and reclamation of contaminated areas. There are several remediation technologies that rely heavily on organic chemistry. The relationship between organic chemistry and environmental engineering is fundamental in the development of sustainable materials that can reduce environmental impact. Controlling greenhouse gas emissions and other atmospheric pollutants is a priority in environmental engineering. Organic chemistry helps in the development of technologies for the treatment of industrial effluents and emissions.
Petroleum industry
Petroleum is the raw material for many chemical products such as medicines, pesticides, fertilizers, and plastics. Fuel oil and gasoline are considered the largest petroleum products in volume in the oil field.
The petroleum industry is also divided into three major components: upstream, midstream, and downstream:
- Upstream, this stage involves the first oil exploration or production process.
- Midstream, which involves the transportation, storage, and wholesale marketing of crude or refined petroleum products.
- Downstream, which includes oil refining, natural gas processing, and petrochemical construction.
Disinfection and cleaning materials
Organic solvents are widely used in the manufacture of cleaning materials. For example, organic chemistry is used to extract medicines from plants. The fatty substance is removed from the pulp using petroleum ether. It is also used in the manufacture of sterilization materials with the aim of achieving the best result in removing dirt and killing germs.
Textile and clothing industry
Most clothing and textile components are organic; The fabric is made of cotton, which is an organic material. Likewise, wool, silk, and polyester are all organic materials. Organic chemistry helps in studying textile materials and improving durability, color, and the cleaning process.
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Conclusion
Organic chemistry is an essential discipline in the modern world. Considering that there are millions of organic compounds and thousands are discovered every day, its application in medicine, the food industry, energy and technology has had a significant impact on our lives , and its study and development continue to be fundamental to address current and future challenges.
Organic chemistry is a powerful tool in environmental engineering, offering innovative solutions to pollution and sustainability problems.
Organic chemistry also plays an important role in utilizing petroleum as a source of energy and materials. Fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and natural gas are hydrocarbons derived from petroleum and used for power generation and transportation. In addition, organic chemistry is also used to produce plastics, synthetic fibers, and other petroleum-derived materials.
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