Initially (before 1828), the name organic chemistry was given for the chemistry of compounds obtained from plants and animals, i.e., from living organism. The word organic signifies life. Lavoisier showed that compounds obtained from plants were often made of C, H and O elements while compounds obtained from animals contain elements C, H, N, O, S, P.... etc.
In early 19th century, Swedish chemist Jacob Berzellius put forward the "Vital Force Theory". According to this theory, organic compounds could not be prepared in laboratories because they were supposed to be synthesized under the influence of a mysterious force called Vital Force, inherent only in living things.
The Vital Force theory suffered death blow in 1828 when Wohler synthesized the first organic compound urea from inorganic substance by heating ammonium cyanate (NH4CNO):