Question

Why are organic compounds important?

Answer 1

Organic compounds have versatile bonding patterns and are part of all organisms. Organic means that a compound contains carbon.

There are some exceptions to this rule like $C{O}_2$ carbon dioxide.

Organic compounds are important because all living organisms contain carbon. The three basic macromolecules of life are Carbohydrates $\left(C{H}_{2}O\right)$ , facts (lipids) $\left(CHO\right)$ and proteins $\left(CHON\right)$

While these three macromolecules are the basic structures of life, they are the basic components of many of the cycles that drive the earth, primarily the carbon cycle including the exchange of carbon between plants and animals in photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

The decomposition of carbon life forms returning to the soil and being regenerated in new plants, eaten by animals, and decomposed by detrivores. The carbon energy cycle of carbohydrates in organisms but also in fossils fuels becoming petroleum and natural gas.

All of the food we eat are reconstituted material and extracts of plants, animals, bacteria and protists.

Carbon is so important because of the unique bonding properties that allow carbon molecules to form long chains called polymers or compact well-organized rings. These two bonding patterns make carbon one of the most versatile elements for molecular construction.

Diamonds, are composed of a carbon compressed under great pressure. Plastics are composed of carbon polymers, even the stealth technology of the B2 Bomber is made of Carbon fibers.