According to the old concept which is base of Vital Force theory, “all those compounds which contain carbon atom (except CO2, CO, Carbonates, bicarbonates, cyanates, carbides, etc.) are called organic compounds, and their study is known as organic chemistry.
The compounds like CO2, CO, CO3-2, HCO3-1, etc. are considered inorganic by conversion because of some fundamental reasons. However, these compounds contain a carbon atom. One of the valid reasons why the compounds are not organic is that “they do not undergo combustion.”
Vital Force Theory Definition:
In 1807, Berzelius suggested that organic compounds were always obtained from organisms (animals and plants) and therefore got the name “organic derived from ORGANISM.” This concept appeared in the form of a theory known as Vital Force Theory. It can be stated as, “Organic compounds are formed inside the body of organisms (animals & plants) and cannot be synthesized in the laboratory.”
Rejection of Vital Force Theory:
In 1828, a German chemist Fredrick Wohler synthesized urea (an organic compound) in a laboratory and thus rejected Vital Force Theory.
He was reacting Potassium Cyanate (KCNO) with Ammonium Chloride (NH4Cl) (Both inorganic) to produce an inorganic compound, Ammonium Cyanate (NH4CNO). When he got NH4CNO, he started heating it to study its characteristics. However, when he heated Ammonium Cyanate, it converted into a new compound, which was urea. Thus, the concept of Vital Force Theory was rejected.
i.e.
KCNO + NH4Cl → KCl + NH4CNO
Then, on heating
NH4CNO → (NH2)2CO
Inorganic Urea (organic)
Modern Concept about Organic Chemistry:
According to the modern concept, “All the hydrocarbons and their derivatives are called organic compounds, and their study is known as organic chemistry.”
