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Vital Force Theoryis a theory made by the Swedish chemist BERZELLIUS in 1815, who put forward this theory that, organic compounds could be produced only under the influence of some mysterious force existing in living organisms. This mysterious force was called vital force. Since such mysterious force cannot be created artificially, it is impossible to synthesize organic compounds in the laboratory. This theory resigned supreme for a number of years. It gave serious set back to progress of organic chemistry. So, chemistry could not flourish for a long time.

FAILURE OF VITAL FORCE THEORY:

Vital force theory has been failed because a number of organic compounds can be prepared by inorganic or non-living stuff.

FREDRICK WHOLER, a German chemist was the first person who, in 1828 synthesized an organic substance UREA by using inorganic substances. It was previously obtained from urine of animals. He obtained urea while evaporating an aqueous solution of Ammonium Cyanate (obtained by double decomposition of ammonium chloride and potassium cyanate) on boiling with water.

(Both of the following reactions are carried out in the presence of heat)

NH4Cl (s) + KCNO (s) ----------> NH4CNO (s) + KCl (s)

NH4CNO (s) ------------> H2N-CO-NH2 (s)

Urea (H2N-CO-NH2)

This synthesis gave death blow to Vital Force Theory, thereafter thousands and thousands of organic compounds have been synthesized in the laboratory. With the down fall of Vital Force Theory, the term organic (pertaining to life) lost its original significance. However, it was shown that all organic compounds, whether natural or synthetic, essentially contain carbon and hydrogen and occasionally a few other elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur phosphorous and halogens.

Organic compounds are now known as the compounds of carbon. Along with carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are also usually found, whereas nitrogen, the halogens, phosphorous and sulphur are sometimes present.

The branch of chemistry which deals with the study of organic compounds is called organic chemistry.

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Related Questions

How vital force is wrong?

It would be much shorter to list the ways in which the theory of "vital force" was right. Here they are, between the parentheses: ().


What was Aristotle's vital force?

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How did pasteur's experiment answer the objections raised by supporters of the vital force hypothesis?

Pasteur's experiment permitted air from the outside to mix with air from the inside, which would have allowed any "vital force" to enter and cause the broth to become cloudy if there were such a "vital force.


How did pasteur's experiment answer the objection raised by supporters of the vital force hypothesis?

Pasteur's experiment permitted air from the outside to mix with air from the inside, which would have allowed any "vital force" to enter and cause the broth to become cloudy if there were such a "vital force.


How did Pasteurs experiment answer the objections raised by supporters of the vital force hypothesis?

Pasteur's experiment permitted air from the outside to mix with air from the inside, which would have allowed any "vital force" to enter and cause the broth to become cloudy if there were such a "vital force.


What is the vital force that keeps your heart beating?

The vital force that keeps your heart beating is the electrical signals generated by the sinoatrial node, also known as the heart's natural pacemaker.


In a system of free enterprise is incentive a vital force?

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How rejected the vital force theory?

The vital force theory was rejected with the advancement of scientific knowledge in fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics. These disciplines provided more concrete explanations for biological processes that did not require the notion of a separate vital force guiding life functions. The discovery of cellular and molecular mechanisms further contributed to discrediting the vital force theory.


What is the Vital principle of animating force within living things?

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A vital principle or animating force within living-things?

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Does vital have any connection to vitality?

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