CARBON AND THE MOLECULAR DIVERSITY OF LIFE Chapter
CARBON AND THE MOLECULAR DIVERSITY OF LIFE Chapter 4 I. The Importance of Carbon
A. ______ chemistry is the study of carbon compounds – Organic compounds can range from simple molecules, such as CO 2 or CH 4, to complex molecules, like proteins. – The % of the major elements of life (C, H, O, N, S, and P) are quite uniform from one organism to another.
B. Carbon atoms are the most ____ building blocks of molecules. • 1. The _________ of carbon makes large, complex molecules possible. • 2. Carbon forms single, double and triple ______ bonds. • 3. Carbon bonds to other carbon atoms forming long, stable ______ chains. • ______ form easily. • The valences of carbon and its partners can be viewed as the building code that governs the architecture of organic molecules.
• C. ______ are compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structures and therefore different chemical properties. – 1. _____ isomers are molecules that have the same molecular formula but differ in the arrangement of atoms in general. – Butane and isobutane have the same molecular formula C 4 H 10, butane has a straight skeleton and isobutane has a branched skeleton.
– 2. _____ isomers are compounds with the same covalent partnerships that differ in their spatial arrangement around a carbon-carbon double bond. – The double bond does not allow atoms to rotate freely around the bond axis.
– 3. ________ are molecules that are mirror images of each other. – ______ are possible if there are four different atoms or groups of atoms bonded to a carbon. – They are like left-handed and right-handed versions of each other. – Usually one is biologically active, the other inactive. – Shown are two amino acids. Biological systems use only left -handed amino acids.
II. Functional Groups
A. _____ groups contribute to the molecular diversity of life • 1. The components of organic molecules that are usually involved in chemical reactions are called _____ groups. • 2. ______ groups are attachments that replace hydrogens bonded to the carbon skeleton of the hydrocarbon. • Each functional group behaves consistently from one organic molecule to another. • The number and arrangement of functional groups help give each molecule its unique properties.
B. Types of Functional Groups • There are ______ functional groups that are most important to the chemistry of life. • All are _______ and increase the ____ of organic compounds in water.
• 1. In a _____ group (-OH), a hydrogen atom forms a polar covalent bond with an oxygen atom, which forms a polar covalent bond to the carbon skeleton. – The polar covalent bonds of hydroxyl groups improve the solubility of organic molecules. – a. Organic compounds with hydroxyl groups are ____ and their names typically end in -ol.
• 3. A ____ group (C=O) is an oxygen atom joined to the carbon skeleton by a double bond. – a. If the carbonyl group is on the end of the skeleton, it’s an _____. – b. If not, then the compound is a ______.
• 4. A ____ group (-COOH) is a carbon atom with a double bond to an oxygen atom and a single bond to a hydroxyl group. – a. Compounds with _____ groups are _____ acids.
• 5. An _____ group (-NH 2) is a nitrogen atom attached to two hydrogen atoms and the carbon skeleton. – a. Organic compounds with amino groups are _______. – b. The _______ group acts as a base. – c. Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, have amino and carboxyl groups.
• 6. A _____ group (-SH) is a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom and to the backbone. – This group resembles a hydroxyl group in shape. – a. Organic molecules with _______ groups are _____. – b. ______ groups help stabilize the structure of proteins by forming disulfide bridges with covalent bonding.
• 7. A _____ group (-OPO 32 -) is a phosphorus bound to four oxygen atoms • a. _______ groups are negatively charged anions. • b. Some transfer energy between organic molecules. (ATP ADP + P)
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