Organic compounds are important because all living organisms contain carbon. They are the basic components of many of the cycles that drive the earth. Organic compounds typically consist of groups of carbon atoms covalently bonded to hydrogen, usually oxygen, and often other elements as well. Created by living things, they are found throughout the world, in soils and seas, commercial products, and every cell of the human body. This book provides readers comprehensive information on the structure and physical and chemical properties of important chemicals.