Asimov I. The World of Carbon

New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1958. — 175 p.Chemists divide all substances into two classes. In one class are such things as olive oil, sugar, starch, glue, gelatin, silk, rubber, paper, and penicillin. These are examples of organic substances. In the other class are such things as air, water, sand, clay, salt, gold, silver, iron, brass, glass, and concrete. These are examples of inorganic substances. The distinction between the two emerged when it became evident that organic substances are made up of molecules that almost always contained at least one carbon atom; it then became convenient to call any substance with carbon atoms in its molecule organic and any substance without carbon atoms inorganic. In this way the world of organic chemistry came to be identified with the world of carbon.In The World of Carbon, Isaac Asimov, introducing the study of organic chemistry, offers a clear, vivid, and comprehensible analysis of many of the most common organic compounds in our world. And he demonstrates how increased knowledge of the structure of these carbon compounds—from anaesthetics and antifreeze to paint and perfume—has led to a better life for all of us.Those common organic compounds not discussed in this volume are covered by Dr. Asimov in a companion volume that concentrates on carbon compounds containing at least one atom of nitrogen.Introduction - The Two Halves of Chemistry
Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral.
Carbon and No Carbon.
Diagrams for Molecules
Chains, long and short
The Simplest Organic Compound.
Building up the Chains.
Branches in the Chain.
Where Hydrocarbons Come From.
More Fractions.
Oil and Water
A shortage of Hydrogen
Two Bonds are Livelier than One.
Catalysts and Plastics.
Natural Colors.
The South American Toy.
Three Bonds are Still Livelier
Rings, one and many
The Battle Against Pain.
Hexagons.
More Power in Gasoline.
Moth Balls and Cancer
The salt-formers
Introducing New Atoms.
Safe, but Dangerous.
Freezing Skin and Killing Bugs.
Refrigeration and Hospital Smell
Beverages and poisons
The Use and Abuse of Oxygen.
What a Difference an O Makes.
The Cup that Cheers.
The Cup that Kills.
The Alcohol Properties Vanish
Here and there with the hydroxyl group
Vitamins and Eyes.
Vitamins and Bones.
Sweetness.
First Victory over Infection.
Acids and Hormones
Varying the combination
And Still Champion.
Tears and Plastics.
Intermediates.
Sleep and Flavor.
Diabetes and Perfumes.
More Vitamins;
More Hormones
Sweet substances
A New Kind of Isomerism.
Sugar is Sweet?
Breaking Sugar in Two.
Giant Molecules.
Our Debt to Bacteria and Herbs
Sour substances
Acids and Ants.
Vinegar.
Two at a Time.
Soda Water and Spinach.
More Isomerism
Fruit, muscle and soap
The Pleasant Acids.
Sour Milk and Tired Muscles.
Castor Oil and Jelly.
Compounds that Clean
Combinations cancel out
Nail-Polish Remover and Headache Pills.
The First Vitamin.
The Tell-Tale Color.
Substitutes for Silk and Glass.
Fats, at Last.
Fats in the Kitchen.
Paint
Epilogue
What is Yet to be Told
Index