u The term organic appears to have been used for the first time about 1777 and was applied to those materials occurring in or derived from living organisms. Accordingly, such substances as starch alcohol, and urea were classified as organic, for starch is produced by living plants, alcohol is a product of fermentation caused by microorganisms, and urea is contained in urine. In 1824. however the German chemist WOhler synthesized urea, and the original meaning of the term"organic"no longer applied Organic compounds, in the modern sense, are the compounds of carbon. Many thousands of carbon compounds which are not found in or derived from living organisms have been produced by chemists, and well over a million organic compounds are already known.◼ The term "organic" appears to have been used for the first time about 1777 and was applied to those materials occurring in or derived from living organisms. Accordingly, such substances as starch, alcohol, and urea were classified as organic, for starch is produced by living plants, alcohol is a product of fermentation caused by microorganisms, and urea is contained in urine. In 1824, however, the German chemist WÖhler synthesized urea, and the original meaning of the term “organic” no longer applied. Organic compounds, in the modern sense, are the compounds of carbon. Many thousands of carbon compounds which are not found in or derived from living organisms have been produced by chemists, and well over a million organic compounds are already known