Basic Concepts
In a nutshell: Organic reactions let us transform molecules to create new materials and medicines.
## How Organic Molecules Change
Organic chemistry is all about reactions—how molecules transform and combine!
### Four Major Reaction Types
- **Substitution**: One atom or group swaps with another.
- **Addition**: Atoms add across double or triple bonds.
- **Elimination**: Atoms are removed, often creating double bonds.
- **Rearrangement**: The molecule's skeleton is shuffled.
### Reaction Conditions
Many reactions need special conditions: heat, light, or catalysts.
## Real-World Connections
These reactions are the backbone of creating everything from plastics to pharmaceuticals.
Examples
- Making soap from fats involves substitution and elimination reactions.
- Polyethylene plastic is made by addition reactions of ethene.