Chapter Four: Carbon & the Molecular Diversity of Life Flashcards
What ‘virtuoso’ element is in chemicals in organisms? How does it enter the biosphere?
Carbon; it enters via plant actions
It is unparalleled in its stability to form large, complex, & diverse molecules
What is organic chemistry? What are the major elements of life?
the study of compounds that contain carbon (has a variety of sizes)
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorous
Definition of mechanism
The view that all natural phenomena are governed by physical and chemical laws
Why is electron configuration important? State what you know about carbon’s valence.
It’s key to an atom’s chemical characteristics; it determines the kinds and numbers of bonds an atom will form with other atoms. It gives carbon covalent compatibility with many elements such as hydrogen, nitrogen,
Carbon can form up to 4 covalent bonds, single or double; it acts as an intersection point from which a molecule can branch off at any point
What is tetravalence?
The one facet allowing large, complex molecules possible. Each Carbon atom bonded to four other atoms has a tetrahedral shape; 2 C atoms joined by a double bond means it’s a flat plane
How are carbon skeletons shaped?
They vary in length, they can be straight, branched, or closed rings. Some have double bonds (varies in location and number) and it has molecular complexity and diversity.
Definition of hydrocarbons
organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen. They aren’t prevalent and many of a cell’s organic molecules consist of carbon and hydrogen. They undergo reactions that release a large amount of energy.
What are isomers? Name the three types and state their properties.
Isomers are compounds that have the same number of atoms of the same elements but different structures and hence different properties.
Structural isomers differ in the covalent arrangement of their atoms
Geometric isomers have the same covalent partnerships, but differ in their spatial arrangements; cis isomer is when 2 elements are on the same side and a trans isomer is when they are on opposite sides
Enantiomers are a mirror image of each other; an assymetric carbon is when a carbon is attach to four atoms/different groups of atoms
Definition of functional groups
the components of organic molecules that are most commonly involved in chemical reactions; number and arrangement give each molecule unique properties.
Hydroxyl:
Structure
Name
Functional properties
-OH; a hydrogen atom is bonded to an oxygen atom, which in turn is bonded to the carbon skeleton of the organic molecule.
Alcohols (ends in ol)
It is polar as a result of the electrons spending more time near the electronegative oxygen atom (just say it’s polar); It can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, helping dissolve organic compounds such as sugars (just say it can form hydrogen bonds.
Carbonyl:
Structure
Name
Functional Properties
> C=O; a carbon atom joined to an oxygen atom by a double bond
Ketones and Aldehydes
A ketone & aldehyde may be structural isomers with different properties, as is the case for acetone and propanal (can have different properties); these two gorups are also found in sugars, giving rise to two major groups of sugars: aldoses and ketoses (determines two groups of sugars
Carboxyl:
Structure
Name
Functional Properties
OH>C=O (-COOH; When an oxygen atom is double bonded to a carbon atom that is also bonded to an -OH group, the entire assembly of atoms is called a carboxyl group (basically carbonyl + hydroxyl)
carboxylic acids
[has acidic properties] because the covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen is so polar; found in cells in the ionized form with a charge of -1 and called a carboxylat ion
Amino:
Structure
Name
Functional Properties
H>N-H (-NH2); a nitrogen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms and to the carbon skeleton
amines
[acts as a base]; can pick up an H+ from the surrounding solution (water, in living organisms); [ionized], with a charge of 1+, under cellular conditions
Sulfhydryl:
Structure
Name
Functional Properties
-SH; a sulfur atom bonded to an atom of hydrogen; resembles a hydroxyl group in shape
thiols
2 sulfhydryl groups can react, forming a covalent bond. This [cross-linking] helps stabilize protein structure; cross-linking of cysteines in hair proteins maintains the curliness or straightness of hair (which can be permanently curled by shaping it around curlers, then breaking and reforming the cross linking bonds)
Phosphate:
Structure
Name
Functional Properties
(-OPO3^2-) a phosphorous atom bonded to 4 oxygen atoms, one oxygen is bonded to the carbon skeleton; two oxygens carry negative charges
Organic phosphates
Contributes negative charge to the molecule of which it is a part; has the potential to react with water, releasing energy
