Includes index.

Covalent bonding and shapes of molecules -- Acids and bases -- Alkanes and cycloalkanes -- Alkenes and alkynes -- Reactions of alkenes and alkynes -- Chirality: the handedness of molecules -- Haloalkanes -- Alcohols, ethers, and thiols -- Benzene and its derivatives -- Amines -- Infrared spectroscopy -- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy -- Aldehydes and ketones -- Carboxylic acids -- Functional derivatives of carboxylic acids -- Enolate anions -- Organic polymer chemistry -- Carbohydrates -- Amino acids and proteins -- Nucleic acids -- Lipids -- The organic chemistry of metabolism.

In an attempt to highlight the relevance of the material to students, the authors place a strong emphasis on showing the interrelationship between organic chemistry and other areas of science, particularly the biological and health sciences. The text illustrates the use of organic chemistry as a tool in these sciences; it also stresses the organic compounds, both natural and synthetic, that surround us in everyday life: in pharmaceuticals, plastics, fibers, agrochemicals, surface coatings, toiletry preparations and cosmetics, food additives, adhesives, and elastomers.