What is vital force?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Vital Force Theory is a theory made by the Scientist Berzelius in 1809 which assumed that organic compounds are only formed in living cells and it is impossible to prepare them in laboratories .. But the German Scientist Friedrich WöhlerDestroyed this theory when he prepared the organic compound Urea by heating the aqueous solution of 2 inorganic compounds which are Ammonium Chloride (NH4Cno) and pottasium Cyanate (kCNO).

kCNO + NH4Cno ___> AgCl + NH4CNO

NH4CNO __________> (Urea)

(By Heating)

Any More Info?

Answer 3

The Vital Force Theory (Was Prep.. By Swedish Scientist (1806) Berzeluis That Considered In The Living Organism And Found Inside Animal Or Plant Origin ,Found In The Living Cells Of The Body And Impossible To Synthesize Them Inside The Lab)...And The German Scientist Wohler (1828) Destroyed The V.F.T. By Prep Urea During Heating Inside The Lab From 2 Inorganic Compound In To Organic Compound.....By Ammonium Chloride & Silver Cyanate (In.Org.Comp.) ... NH4Cl + AgCNO- In To NH4CNO- + AgCl (ppt) ....And From NH4CNO- In To Urea (Org.Comp) H2NCONH2...

Answer 4

The definition of vital force is the soul, or the spirit or energy that animates a living creature. It is a hypothetical force that is independent of chemical or physical forces. It also means an object or individual that gives something else strength.

Answer 5

theory made by the scientist berzelius in 1809 which assumed that organic compound are only formed in living cell and it is impossible to prepare them in laboratories.

Answer 6

vital force theory was proposed by Berzilius in 1809.