What are Organic Compounds

Organic compounds are the complex compounds of carbon. Because carbon atoms bond to one another easily, the basis of most organic compounds is comprised of carbon chains that vary in length and shape. Hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms are the most common atoms that are generally attached to the carbon atoms. Each carbon atom has 4 as its valence number which increases the complexity of the compounds that are formed. Since carbon atoms are able to create double and triple bonds with other atoms, it further also raises the likelihood for variation in the molecular make-up of organic compounds.

All living things are composed of intricate systems of inorganic and organic compounds. For example, there are many kinds of organic compounds that are found in nature, such as hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are the molecules that are formed when carbon and hydrogen combine. They are not soluble in water and easily distribute. There are also aldehydes – the molecular association of a double-bonded oxygen molecule and a carbon atom. 

There are many classes of organic compounds. Originally, they were believed to come from living organisms only. However, in the mid-1800s, it became clear that they could also be created from simple inorganic proteins. Yet, many of the organic compounds are associated with basic processes of life, such as carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. 

Carbohydrates are hydrates of carbon and include sugars. They are quite numerous and fill a number of roles for living organisms. For example, carbohydrates are responsible for storing and transporting energy, maintaining the structure of plants and animals, and in helping the functioning of the immune system, blood clotting, and fertilization – to name just a few. 

Proteins are a class of organic compounds that are comprised of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. Proteins are soluble in water. The protein itself is composed of subunits called amino acids. There are 20 different amino acids found in nature – organisms can convert them from one to another for all but eight of the amino acids. 

Lipids comprise a class of organic compounds that are insoluble in water or other polar solvents; however, they are soluble in organic solvents. Lipids are made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and a variable of other elements. Lipids store energy, protect internal organs, provide insulation in frigid temperatures, among other features. Lipids can be broken down into several groups ranging from triglycerides, steroids, waxes, and phospholipids. 

Nucleic acids are another group of organic compounds. They are universal in all living organisms. In fact, they are found in cells and viruses. Some people may not consider a virus to be a living thing. Friedrich Miescher discovered nucleic acids in 1871.

What is UV Light

UV light, short for ultraviolet light, is light with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. This means electromagnetic waves with a wavelength between 400 nm and 10 nm, with energies from 3 eV to 124 eV. UV light is more energetic than visible light and has a shorter wavelength, letting it penetrate more readily through obstacles. The "ultraviolet" in ultraviolet light references that UV light is beyond violet on the electromagnetic spectrum. Like other forms of electromagnetic radiation outside the visible spectrum, UV light is invisible, but it can be observed indirectly by the way it makes many other substances fluoresce in the visible spectrum. 

In popular culture, UV light is primarily thought of as a party light because of the way it makes textiles and clothing, particularly white shirts, fluoresce brightly. "Black lights" are synonymous with UV light. These lights primarily produce light in the UV portion of the spectrum, but they also produce a slight violet glow. Special posters or other works of art are often created with the express purpose of fluorescing a certain way under a black light. 

UV light has many other applications outside of the party scene. It is frequently used in security. For instance, sensitive documents, such as currency, driver's licenses, credit cards or passports, have invisible symbols on them that light up only in the presence of UV light. These are difficult for counterfeiters to copy.

Common fluorescent lamps are powered by UV light. UV light is produced by ionizing low-pressure mercury vapor, which is then absorbed by a special fluorescent coating, which in turn produces visible light. Fluorescent lights are more energy-efficient than conventional light bulbs. 

Biologists and zoologists are quite fond of UV light as it helps them take nighttime organism surveys in the field. Certain birds, reptiles, and insects (such as bees) are clearly visible under UV light, and quickly flashing a UV light over a small area can allow observers to count the approximate number of organisms of a given type in that area. This is very helpful because many animals are highly nocturnal and rarely if ever seen during the day. 

Besides the above mentioned applications, UV light can also be used for spectrophotometry (to analyze chemical structure), analyzing minerals, chemical markers, photochemotherapy (for psoraisis), very fine resolution photolithography, checking electrical insulation, sterilization, disinfecting drinking water, food processing, lasers, and many other areas.

What is Chromatography

Chromatography is a process which can be used to isolate the various components of a mixture. There are a number of different types of chromatography in use, including gas, liquid, paper, and gel permeation chromatography, and this process can get quite involved, especially with complex mixtures. It is also an extremely useful addition to a variety of fields, including pure and applied sciences, forensics, and athletics, among many others.

The process relies on the fact that different molecules will behave in different ways when they are dissolved in a solvent and moved across an absorbent medium. In a very simple example, one could take ink and make a mark on a piece of paper. The paper could be dipped into water, and the capillary action of the water would pull the ink through the paper. As the ink moved, its ingredients would separate out, revealing a distinctive pattern which could be used to determine the components of the ink.

In preparative chromatography, researchers separate individual components of a compound for use in the lab or in research. This process can get extremely precise: using a preparative chromatography technique, for example, a scientists can isolate two strands of DNA which differ by only a few pieces of information. In analytical chromatography, the goal is to figure out what is in a sample. Drug testing relies on analytical chromatography to isolate illicit substances in urine and blood samples, for instance.

In the example above with a dot of ink and a piece of paper, the basic concepts behind the process are illustrated, although most chromatography machines are a bit more sophisticated. It is important to choose the right solvent or carrier fluid to dissolve the sample in, and to select an appropriate solid medium to pass the sample through. Poor choices can result in confusing or inaccurate results, and the chromatography procedure requires substantial skills on the part of the operator to ensure that it returns useful data.

The result of a session is a chromatograph, a printout which provides information about the substance being analyzed. The printout usually takes the form of a chart with a series of troughs and peaks. Each peak represents a substance present in the sample, and the concentrations of these substances can be determined by looking at the height and width of the peak. Computerized chromatography machines generate such printouts automatically as the data is produced, and they can also be made by hand.