1.3 The Carbon Chemistry of Life

Question 1

Carbon atoms are the base of…

Answer 1

the base of every
ORGANIC molecule

Question 2

Carbon atoms form the..

Answer 2

Forms the BACKBONE of large,
complex molecules
* this role arises from carbon’s bonding
properties

Question 3

Facts About Carbon

Answer 3

Can assemble into a huge variety of
CHAIN and RING structures

Can bond with 4 other molecules (b/c it
has 4 valence e-) and can form single, double and triple bonds

Question 4

Molecules that only
contain Carbon and
Hydrogen are called

Answer 4

HYDROCARBONS
* Smallest = methane (CH4)

Question 5

Hydrocarbons are
commonly used as

Answer 5

FUELS

Question 6

Carbon can form

Answer 6

rings, which can form complex chains

Question 7

Molecules of living
organisms contain other
elements in addition to C
and H which give the molecules…

Answer 7

Give the biological molecules
different functional
properties

Question 8

Functional Groups

Answer 8

atoms that affects the function of a molecule by participating in chemical reactions

Question 9

Functional Groups Attach to…

Answer 9

Attach to Carbon structures and give them specific chemical
characteristics

Question 10

Often _________ are involved in chemical reactions

Answer 10

IONIC/STRONGLY POLAR molecules

Question 11

__________parts DO NOT INTERACT in reactions

Answer 11

Non-Polar

Question 12

–OH

Answer 12

Hydroxyl

Major Class of Molecule: Alcohols

Question 13

C=O

Answer 13

Carbonyl

Major Class of Molecule:
Aldehydes

Question 14

C
“
O

Answer 14

Carbonyl

Major Class of Molecule:
Ketones

Question 15

COOH

              O
          "
      C
            "
                  OH

Answer 15

Carboxyl

Major Class of Molecule:
Organic acids

Question 16

NH2

                      H
                   "
             N 
                   "
                        H

Answer 16

Amino

Major Class of Molecule:
Amino Acids

Question 17

PO42-

               O-
                '
       O  -   P  -   O-
                "
                O

Answer 17

Phosphate

Major Class of Molecule:
Nucleotides, Nucleic Acids, Many other cellular molecules

Question 18

• SH

Answer 18

Sulfhydryl

Major Class of Molecule:
Many cellular molecules

Question 19

Functional Groups Makes molecules available for cell
use by…

Answer 19

making them water soluble

Question 20

Some groups are IONIC FUNCTIONAL GROUPS

Answer 20

Carboxyl (COOH) – can release protons (H+)
(acts as an acid)

Amino (NH2) – can accept protons (H+) to become NH3+ (acts as a weak base)

Phosphate (H3PO4) – loses hydrogen atoms to become
PO4 2- (acts as an acid)

Question 21

DNA is an acid because…

Answer 21

it contains a huge number of phosphate groups
along its backbone

Therefore, its overall charge is negative