Organic Molecules in Biology Flashcards
(60 cards)
Organic chemistry is the study
carbon compounds
Different individuals in a species are distinguished by variations in the types of
organic molecules they make
6 Major elements of life
- Carbon
- Hydrogen
- Oxygen
- Nitrogen
- Sulfur
Phosphorus
carbon can make ___ bonds
four
carbon usually forms ___ or ___ covalent bonds
single or double
Shape of a molecule is central to its
function
Single covalent bonds form a
tetrahedron
Double bond
The carbons are on the same plane as are the atoms
Valence
Number of covalent bonds that can form
what are valence electrons based on
Number of unpaired electrons in the valence shell
four main atoms in organic molecules
a. Oxygen
b. Nitrogen
Hydrogen
carbon
Carbon chains form the skeletons of
most organic molecules
variations of carbon chains can be found in the
- chain length
- branches
- double bond position
- presence of rings
Hydrocarbons
- Organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen
Isomers
Variations in the architecture of organic molecules
isomers have the same __________ but different ________
number of atoms of elements and structures
Isomers of organic molecules have
different functions
Structural isomers
- Differ in the covalent arrangements of their atom
Cis-trans isomers
Carbons have covalent bonds to the same atom but differ in their position
cis isomer
on the same side
trans isomer
opposite sites
Single bonds allow for the atoms to
freely about the bond axis without changing the compound
Enantiomers
Isomers that are mirror images of each other
how many enantiomer isomers are biologically active
only one
