What is Organic Chemistry?

Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds, which extends to understanding chemical reactions in living organisms. They are also the products that are can be derived from themselves. There are numerous examples of organic chemistry in the world around use. Some examples of organic products which can be seen in our daily life are :

• Shampoo
• Gasoline
• Perfume
• Lotion
• Drugs
• Soap and etc.

 

Fig1 : "head & shoulders." Shampoo

 

Fig 2: Famous "Pnina Tornai" Perfume

Fig 3: Oil/Petroleum used in Industry

As you can see, most of the products you use involve organic chemistry. Your computer, furniture, home, vehicle, food, and body contain organic compounds. Every living thing you encounter is organic. Inorganic items, such as rocks, air, metals, and water often contain organic matter, too.

How Does Perfume Work? (The Organic Chemistry Behind Perfume)

A Brief History of Perfume

The use of fragrance materials for all kinds of purposes goes back thousands of years. The word "Perfume" comes from the Latin per fume "through smoke", reflection of how the process of perfume is obtained.

Fig 1: An Ancient Egyptian Woman Using Perfume

Perfume has been used throughout the history for a variety of reasons. People have used perfume and oil on their bodies for thousands of years as fashion. The ancient Egyptians were particularly famous for their use of perfumes. They used fragrant materials in many forms such as pressed, boiled, dried, powdered, macerated in fat. The simplest way is the form of distillation. 

Fig 2: Paul Parquet, French Perfumer who pioneered the use of

synthetics in works such as "Fougère Royale"

During the 17th century, the perfume markers was established in France. In 1882, Paul Parquet created "Fougère Royale" around an accord composed of synthetic coumarin, oak moss and etc. In the following years, major achievements in the synthesis of fragrant compounds, as well as the discovery of new catalyzed the creation of many lardmark perfumes. It was fresh, sparkling oriental fragrance based on a powerful blend of honey, vanilla and caramel. 

What Do Perfumes Are Made Of?

Normally, perfume is made from about 78% to 95% of specially denatured ethyl alcohol and a remainder of essential oils. They are made up of a blend of different aromas that usually come from essential oils. Perfume formulations can be expressed in volumetric or weight proportions of each of its components. perfumes today are being manufactured more and more with synthetic chemicals rather than natural oil. 

 Fig 3: Major Components Of Jasmine

Natural ingredients are flowers, jasmine, grasses, spices, fruit, woods, leaves and even animal secretions, as well as resources like alcohol and coal which are used in the manufacture of perfumes. Some plants such as lily, do no produce those kinds of essential oils. Therefore, synthetic chemicals must be used to recreate the smells of non-oily substances. Synthetics also creates original scents which cannot be found in nature.

The Methods Of Making Perfumes

Fig 4: Processing Perfumes By Using Steam Air

There are various approaching ways of making perfumes. One of the famous methods of making perfumes is by using steam air which is shown above. Different methods are used depending on the materials such as rose, jasmine, and etc. to produces perfumes. The most common methods are :

• Extraction
• Blending
• Distillation
• Absorption

1. Extraction

Fig 5: Extraction From Flowers Pedals

By Using Volatile Solvents

Fragrance also is drawn when the plant matter and volatile solvents are combined in a rotating tank. The solvent extracts the essential oils and dissolves the plant matter, leaving a wax-like oil. Once the oil has evaporated, a perfume paste remains.

2.Blending

 Fig 6: Flowers are blending to make perfumes

Once the perfume oil is extracted , the blending process commences. A perfumer, known as "a nose," uses an extensive knowledge of fragrance characteristic to blend anywhere from 20 to 800 raw materials to compose a scent. Once the scent is developed and tested, batches are rationally mixed.

The pure perfume oil is then diluted with alcohol and water. If a full perfume is desired, 10 to 20 percent of the oil is dissolved in alcohol with a minute amount of water. Lologne is 3% to 5% oil, 80% to 90% alcohol and 10% of water. Then the perfume is ready to be aged, filtered and bottled.

3. Distillation

Fig 7: Flowers are put in to a big tank or 

small flask to get the essential oils

In this distillation method, raw materials such as flowers, jasmine, wood or etc are steamed inside the big tank. As the steam rises, the scent is carried into a glass tube where the mixture condenses as it cold. The mixture is then put into flask where the essential oil naturally rises to the top of is skimmed off for use in the perfume.

4. Absorption

 Fig 8:Raw Materials which can't withstand the heat are

put into the alcohol

Absorption is used for raw materials that can't withstand the heat of the distillation process. They are steeped in heated fats or oils, then filtered through fabric to obtain the scented solid. The solid is then washed in alcohol. When the fat is removed, the perfumed alcohol remains.

 

PETROLEUM AS THE PRODUCT OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Petroleum is defined as any mixture of hydrocarbons that can be recovered from a drill pipe. It occurs in form of oil and gas which mainly have a chemical composition of hydrocarbons of various carbon chains.

Origin

By referring to different grounds from two opposing theoretical hypothesis, petroleum origin and formation still become a polarized topic of scientists’ debates. These theories are abiogenesis and biogenesis. Abiogenesis-inorganic origin of petroleum, is an oldest theory which suggests that petroleum comes from the underneath part of the mantle very long time ago before the existence of life on earth (Mendeleev, 1877). 

Dmitry Mendeleev

The second hypothesis, biotic or organic origin suggests that petroleum is formed from biological matters, left behind by very ancient lives. These matters become subjected to high temperature under the absence of oxygen. 

The last hypothesis, biogenesis is currently accepted by many people due to how it is supported by various valid grounds while the first one is more doubtful. Its early supportive tenets lost their truth, especially when they fall in contraction with modern science.

History

Early in 16th century, a theory of the origin of oil stated that it resulted from very deep carbon deposits that have been around far longer than life on this planet. 

That theory, lately became known as the abiotic oil formation (AOF) theory, was largely [ignored] and forgotten until rather recently when a few people-some of them scientists revived it and backed  it with some tenets .

Ancient Abiotic Oil Formation

The idea concerning the origin of petroleum dates back to the 18th and early part of the 19th century, when the chemical nature of petroleum was not known.

Different perspective of petroleum

Biotic origin of petroleum inspires the possibility of exhausting oil reserves and abiotic hypothesis assure quasi-unlimited supplies of oil and gas reserves. Therefore many issues regarding energy renewability rises. 

Politics as the main driver of every issue in our modern socio-economic aspects of living, the arguments of abiotic versus biotic origins of petroleum are caused by some hidden reasons which are for particular interests and politically motivated. For example, “a limited supply can be used to control people and as justification for actions like war. 

An unlimited supply, on the other hand, means that we need not worry about running out, that we ought to be able to drill for more oil and increase the daily supply so as to decrease price, and so forth”

Chemical Composition of Petroleum

Petroleum or crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and other chemicals. The composition varies widely depending where and how the petroleum was formed. In fact, a chemical analysis can be used to fingerprint the source of the petroleum. However, raw petroleum or crude oil has characteristic properties and composition.

paraffins (15-60%)

naphthenes (30-60%)

aromatics (3-30%)

asphaltics (remainder)

The hydrocarbons primarily are alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Elemental Composition of Petroleum

Although there is considerable variation between the ratios of organic molecules, the elemental composition of petroleum is well-defined:

1. Carbon - 83 to 87%

1. Hydrogen - 10 to 14%

1. Nitrogen - 0.1 to 2%

1. Oxygen - 0.05 to 1.5%

1. Sulfur - 0.05 to 6.0%

1. Metals - < 0.1%

The most common metals are iron, nickel, copper and vanadium.

Conclusion

Biotic origin of petroleum fits today science with plausible evidences and it is commonly accepted as the true hypothesis to explain the origin of petroleum regardless of some few confrontations with its counterpart.

Ever wondered what you’re applying to your skin?

Hustling and bustling in our daily lives, I’m sure most of us perspire. The beads of sweat rolling down our foreheads and down our arms, our underarms are sure to give out unpleasant aromas. What do we do about it? Apply perfume? No, that would only make the smell worse, with the sweet perfume mixing with our sweat. Thus, we apply deodorants, with the antiperspirant function. What exactly is inside those chemicals we apply to our skin? Well, here is an example of a deodorant by The Body Shop. 

You might wonder, what organic chemicals are contained in it? Maybe something harmful? Well here’s a quick summary of it contains.

1. Alcohol Denat.

Alcohol, also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol, is normally the alcohol used in alcoholic beverages. However, in inedible products, the regulations require that alcohol be denatured. This means that a small amount of a denaturant is added to the alcohol to make it taste bad or poisonous. Alcohol Denat. is the general name used for denatured alcohol. The formula for ethanol is C₂H₅OH.

In cosmetics field, Alcohol Denat. is used in many product types including makeup, lotions, fragrance, shaving, oral care, skin care and hair care products. Why are they used in cosmetics and personal care products? Alcohol and Alcohol Denat. function as antifoaming agents, cosmetic astringents, solvents and viscosity decreasing agents. In our case, Alcohol Denat. is used as a solvent.

For the product in concern, they used Denatonium Benzoate as the denaturant to render the alcohol unfit for consumption. It a quaternary ammonium compound that is considered the bitterest compound known.

2. Hydroxyethyl cellulose(HEC)

Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a thickening agent made from extractions of cellulose. It is used as an ingredient in solutions such as household cleaning products, soaps, and shampoos. Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is an excellent thickening agent for all personal care products. Of all the natural polymers (gums), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) creates one of the clearest serums and makes an excellent vehicle for active ingredients.  This is the polymers (gums) of choice when you need your serums to be crystal clear. Besides that, hydroxyethyl cellulose is an eco-friendly material and gives a smooth feel to the skin.

3. Hexyl Cinnamal

Click here for a 3D-view of the molecule

Hexyl Cinnamal, short for hexyl cinnamaldehyde and has a chemical formula of C₁₅H₂₀O. The IUPAC name for this aldehyde is 2-(phenylmethylidene)octanal. It is a common additive in perfume and cosmetic industry as it has a pleasant jasmine-like smell. It can be found naturally as one of essential oil of chamomile or can be synthesized chemically. Hexyl Cinnamal is FDA approved and also approved by the Cosmetics Working Group for topical use. However, it can cause allergic reactions when used in high concentrations. 

4. Linalool

Click here for a 3D-view of the molecule

Besides Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool is also used to provide fragrance. Linalool has a chemical formula of C₁₀H₁₈O. The carbon atom 3 in the molecule is a stereogenic centre, as it has four different groups attached, thus there are two stereoisomers. (S)-(+)-linalool has a pleasant sweet, floral lavender smell with a touch of citrus whereas the (R)-(-)-linalool has a woody lavender smell, not as strong as the other linalool. The isomers can be seen below, where the left one is (S)-(+)-linalool and the right one is (R)-(-)-linalool.

Linalool can be chemically synthesized or extracted from the flowers of lavender plant.

Lavender Flower

5. t-Butyl Alcohol

Click here for a 3D-view of the molecule

tert-Butyl alcohol, or commonly known in its IUPAC name 2-Methylpropan-2-ol is the simplest tertiary alcohol. A tertiary alcohol is a compound in which a hydroxy group, ‒OH, is attached to a saturated carbon atom which has three other carbon atoms attached to it. It is a common additive in personal care products. It is a clear liquid with camphor-like odor. Just as the Denatonium Benzoate, it functions as an alcohol denaturant.