ch4 Flashcards
Distinguish between organic and inorganic compounds.
Organic compounds contain carbon, usually bonded to hydrogen. Inorganic compounds either don’t contain carbon or else it is bonded to oxygen, nitrogen, or a metal. however there are exceptions such as CO2
Explain how carbon’s electron configuration explains its ability to form large, complex, diverse organic molecules.
- carbon has 4 valence electrons so it is able to form 4 covalent bonds. due to this carbon is able to form single, double and triple bonds.
- Each carbon atom acts as an intersection point from which a molecule can branch off in as many as four directions. This enables carbon to form large, complex molecules.
Describe the 4 ways carbon skeletons may vary and explain how this variation contributes to the diversity and complexity of organic molecules.
-length:
vary in length
-branched:
may be unbranched or branched
-double bond:
may have double bonds which vary in location
-ring structure:
some are arranged in rings
this variation contributes to diversity as shape is very important to function so shape dictates what the function of a molecule will be
Distinguish among the three types of isomers: structural, cis-trans (geometric), and enantiomer.
-structural:
differ in the covalent arrangements of their atoms.
-cis-trans:
these atoms differ in their spatial arrangements due to the inflexibility of double bonds.
cis isomer: The two Xs are on the same side.
trans isomer: The two Xs are on opposite sides.
-enantiomer:
isomers that are mirror images of each other and that differ in shape due to the presence of an asymmetric carbon, one that is attached to four different atoms or groups of atoms.
Identify the 7 major functional groups that are found in biomolecules
- hydroxyl
- carbonyl
- carboxyl
- sulfhydryl
- amino
- phosphate
- methane
Outline the chemical properties of the 7 functional groups ,provide compound name and chemical group.
-hydroxyl:
polar due to electronegative oxygen. Forms hydrogen bonds with water
compound: alcohol
-OH
-carbonyl:
ketone: kentoses, group is within a carbon skeleton
aldehyde: aldoses ,group is at the end of a carbon skeleton
C–O – = double bond
-carboxyl:
Acts as an acid (can donate H+) because the covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen is so polar.
compound: carboxylic acid or organic acid.
-COOH
-sulfhydryl:
two — SH groups can react, forming a “cross-link” that helps stabilize protein structure.
compounds: Thiol
-SH
-amino:
Acts as a base; can pick up an H+ from the surrounding solution
compound: Amine
-phosphate:
Contributes negative charge (1– when positioned inside a chain of phosphates; 2– when at the end). When attached, confers on a molecule the ability to react with water, releasing energy.
Compound : Organic phosphate
-methane:
Affects the expression of genes when on DNA or on proteins bound to DNA. Affects the shape and function of male and female sex hormones.
Compound : Methylated compound
describe shape of methane, ethane and ethene
-Methane:
forms four single covalent bonds,
the arrangement of its four hybrid orbitals causes the bonds to angle toward the corners of an imaginary tetrahedron. The bond angles in methane (CH4) are 109.5
When a carbon atom has four single bonds to other atoms, the molecule is tetrahedral.
-ethane:
molecule may have more than one tetrahedral group of single-bonded atoms.
shaped like two overlapping tetrahedrons
-ethene:
two carbon atoms are joined by a double bond, all atoms attached to those carbons are in the same plane, and the molecule is flat.
define what is a carbon skeleton
chain of carbon atoms that forms the “backbone,” or foundation, of any organic molecule.
• Describe the Miller experiment
set up a closed system to mimic conditions thought at that time to have existed on the early Earth. A flask of water simulated the primeval sea. The water was heated so that some vaporized and moved into a second, higher flask containing the “atmosphere”—a mixture of gases. Sparks were discharged in the synthetic atmosphere to mimic lightning.
• define hydrocarbons
compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon
Explain how ATP functions as the primary energy transfer molecule in living cells.
- ATP reacts with water and undergoes hydrolysis causing a phosphate group to split off
- this reaction releases energy that is used by the cell
- Although ATP is sometimes said to store energy, it is more accurate to think of it as storing the potential to react with water.
describe the structure of ATP
adenosine attached to a string of three phosphate groups
