Why organic compounds are so abundant

• Organic compounds exceed ten million and the number grows daily, while inorganic compounds do not exceed half a million — a ratio of about 20 : 1.

The reason

• The carbon atom can bond to itself and to other atoms in many ways.
• Atoms join by single, double or triple bonds: C–C, C=C, C≡C.
• Carbon atoms form continuous chains, branched chains, homogeneous rings (all carbon) and heterogeneous rings (another element inside the ring).
• Because of this enormous number, compounds had to be classified into groups and rules of naming established.