Author of the theory of the structure of organic compounds. The theory of the structure of organic compounds AM Butlerova

Chemistry is a science that gives us all the variety of materials and objects of everyday life that we use without hesitation every day. But to come to the discovery of such a variety of compounds, which is known today, many chemists had to go through a complex scientific path.

Huge work, numerous successful and unsuccessful experiments, colossal theoretical knowledge base - all this led to the formation of various areas of industrial chemistry, allowed to synthesize and use modern materials: rubber, plastics, plastics, resins, alloys, various glasses, silicones and so on.

One of the most famous, well-deserved scientists-chemists who made an invaluable contribution to the development of organic chemistry was the Russian man Butlerov AM His works, merits and the results of the work we will consider briefly in this article.

short biography

Date of birth of the scientist - September 1828, the number in different sources is not the same. He was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Mikhail Butlerov, his mother lost early enough. All his childhood he lived in the family estate of his grandfather, in the village Podlesnaya Shentala (now the district of the Republic of Tatarstan).

He studied in various places: first in a private private school, then in a gymnasium. Later he entered the Kazan University at the Department of Physics and Mathematics. However, despite this, he was most interested in chemistry. The future author of the theory of the structure of organic compounds remained at the end of his studies on the spot as a teacher.

1851 - the time of defense of the first dissertation work of the scientist on the topic "Oxidation of organic compounds." After a brilliant speech, he was given the opportunity to manage all of the chemistry at his university.

The author of the theory of the structure of organic compounds passed a long career ladder and by 1874 had become one of the best academicians of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

The scientist died in 1886, where he spent his childhood, in the grandfather's estate. In the family chapel he was buried.

The scientist's contribution to the development of chemical knowledge

The theory of the structure of Butlerov's organic compounds is, of course, his main work. But not the only one. It was this scientist who first created the Russian school of chemists.

And from its walls came out such scientists, who later had great weight in the development of the whole of science. These are the following people:

• Markovnikov;
• Zaytsev;
• Kondakov;
• Favorsky;
• Konovalov;
• Lviv and others.

The author of the theory of the structure of organic compounds created a number of works on natural science, including chemistry. Especially many studies have been devoted specifically to organic compounds.

Works on organic chemistry

There are many such works. Butlerov spent almost all his spare time in the laboratory of his university, carrying out various experiments, drawing conclusions and conclusions. This is how the theory of the chemical structure of organic compounds was born.

There are several particularly capacious works of the scientist:

• He had a report to the conference on the topic "On the chemical structure of matter";
• Dissertational work "On essential oils";
• The first scientific work "Oxidation of organic compounds."

Before she formulated and created the author of the theory of the structure of organic compounds for a long time studied the work of other scientists from different countries, and studied their works, including experimental ones. Only then, after summarizing and systematizing the acquired knowledge, he reflected all the conclusions in the provisions of his nominal theory.

The theory of the structure of organic compounds AM Butlerova

The XIX century is marked by rapid development of almost all sciences, including chemistry. In particular, extensive discoveries on carbon and its compounds continue to accumulate, organic substances amaze everyone with their diversity. However, no one dares to systematize and order all this factual material, to bring it to a common denominator and to reveal the unified laws on which everything is built.

The first to do this was Butlerov AM It belongs to him a brilliant theory of the chemical structure of organic compounds, whose provisions he told massively at the German conference of chemists. This was the beginning of a new era in the development of science, organic chemistry took the path of intensive development.

The scientist himself went to this gradually. He conducted many experiments and predicted the existence of substances with specified properties, discovered some types of reactions and saw the future behind them. Many studied the works of their colleagues and their discoveries. Only against this background by careful and painstaking work he managed to create his own masterpiece. And now the theory of the structure of organic compounds in this section of chemistry is practically the same as the periodic system in the inorganic.

Discoveries of the scientist before the creation of the theory

What discoveries were made and theoretical grounds for scientists before the theory of the structure of organic compounds AM Butlerova appeared?

1. Domestic genius was the first to synthesize such organic substances as urotropine, formaldehyde, methylene iodide and others.
2. Synthesized from the inorganic sugar-like substance (tertiary alcohol), thereby striking another blow to the theory of vitalism.
3. He predicted the future for the polymerization reactions, calling them the best and promising.
4. Isomerism was explained for the first time only to them.

Of course, these are only the main milestones of his work. In fact, many years of painstaking work by a scientist can be described for a long time. However, the most significant for today has become after all the theory of the structure of organic compounds, the provisions of which we will talk about further.

The first position of the theory

In 1861, the great Russian scientist at the chemists' congress in the city of Speyer shares his views on the causes of the structure and diversity of organic compounds with colleagues, expressing all this in the form of the theory's provisions.

The very first point is the following: all atoms within a single molecule are connected in a strict sequence, which is determined by their valence. In this case, the carbon atom exhibits a valence index of four. Oxygen has a value of this index, equal to two, hydrogen - one.

A similar feature he proposed to call the chemical structure of matter. Later, the notation of its expression on paper was adopted using graphical complete structural, reduced and molecular formulas.

The same phenomenon relates to the connection of carbon particles with each other into infinite chains of different structures (linear, cyclic, branched).

In general, Butlerov's theory of the structure of organic compounds as his first position determined the significance of valence and a single formula for each compound that reflects the properties and behavior of the substance during the reactions.

The second position of the theory

In this paragraph, the diversity of organic compounds in the world was explained. Relying on the carbon compounds in the chain, the scientist suggested that there are unequal compounds in the world that have different properties, but are completely identical in molecular composition. In other words, there is a phenomenon of isomerism.

This theory of the theory of the structure of organic compounds AM Butlerova not only explained the essence of isomers and isomerism, but the scientist himself confirmed everything with practical experience.

So, for example, he synthesized the isomer of butane - isobutane. Then he predicted for pentane the existence of not one, but three isomers, proceeding from the structure of the compound. And he synthesized all of them, proving his rightness.

Disclosure of the third provision

The next point of the theory says that all atoms and molecules within a single compound are capable of influencing the properties of each other. This will determine the nature of the behavior of the substance in reactions of various types, the chemical and other properties that are manifested.

Thus, on the basis of this provision, several classes of organic compounds are distinguished , differing in the form and structure of the functional determining group.

The theory of the structure of organic compounds AM Butlerova is briefly described in practically all textbooks on organic chemistry. After all, it is the basis of this section, the explanation of all the laws on which the molecules are built.

The Importance of Theory for Modernity

Of course, it is great. This theory allowed:

1. Unite and systematize all the actual material accumulated by the time it was created;
2. To explain the laws of the structure, properties of various compounds;
3. To give a full explanation of the reasons for such a large variety of compounds in chemistry;
4. Gave rise to numerous syntheses of new substances based on the theory;
5. Allowed to advance views, develop atomic-molecular theory.

Therefore, to say that the author of the theory of the structure of organic compounds, the photo of which can be seen below, has done much, is not to say anything. Butlerov rightfully can be considered the father of organic chemistry, the ancestor of its theoretical foundations.

His scientific vision of the world, the genius of thinking, the ability to foresee the result played a role in the final analysis. This man possessed tremendous capacity for work, patience and tirelessly experimented, synthesized, and trained. Was mistaken, but always took a lesson and made correct perspective conclusions.

Only such a set of qualities and business acumen, persistence made it possible to achieve the desired effect.

The study of organic chemistry in school

In the course of secondary education there is not much time left for studying the foundations of organic matter. Only one quarter of the 9th grade and the entire year of the 10th grade (according to the program of Gabrielyan OS). However, this time is enough for the children to be able to study all the main classes of compounds, the features of their structure and nomenclature, the practical significance.

The basis for the initiation of the course is the theory of the structure of organic compounds of AM Butlerov. The 10th class is devoted to the full consideration of its provisions, and in the future - to the theoretical and practical confirmation of them in the study of each class of substances.