Organic materials are defined in modern chemistry as carbon-based compounds, originally derived from living organisms but now including lab-synthesized versions as well. Most are combinations of a few of the lightest elements, particularly hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Organic materials include the wood from which furniture is made, feathers, leather, and synthetic materials such as petroleum-based plastics. In spite of this variety they share some general characteristics. For example, many organic materials undergo fading, yellowing, or embrittlement in response to prolonged exposure to light or other forms of radiation, caused by breakdown of the covalent bonding structure shared by many carbon-containing compounds.
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