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Carbon and Molecular Diversity of Life

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  • Why is carbon important in biological molecules?
    Carbon forms the backbone of life because it can form four covalent bonds, allowing large, complex, and diverse molecules essential for living matter.
  • What defines organic chemistry?
    The study of compounds containing carbon, typically with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur.
  • What is a hydrocarbon?
    An organic molecule consisting only of carbon and hydrogen, often found in fats and fuels.
  • What are isomers?
    Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures and properties.
  • Name the three types of isomers.
    Structural isomers differ in covalent arrangements, geometric isomers differ in spatial arrangements, and enantiomers are mirror images.
  • Why are enantiomers important biologically?
    They can have different effects in organisms; often only one enantiomer is biologically active.
  • What are functional groups?
    Specific groups of atoms attached to carbon skeletons that determine the chemical properties of organic molecules.
  • List the seven important functional groups in biology.
    Hydroxyl, Carbonyl, Carboxyl, Amino, Sulfhydryl, Phosphate, and Methyl groups.
  • What is the property of the hydroxyl group (-OH)?
    Polar due to electronegative oxygen; forms hydrogen bonds; found in alcohols.
  • What defines the carbonyl group (>C=O)?
    Sugars with ketone groups are ketoses; those with aldehydes are aldoses.
  • What is the role of the carboxyl group (-COOH)?
    Acts as an acid by donating H+; found in carboxylic acids.
  • What is the function of the amino group (-NH2)?
    Acts as a base by accepting H+; found in amines.
  • What is special about the sulfhydryl group (-SH)?
    Can form cross-links that stabilize protein structure; found in thiols.
  • What does the phosphate group (-OPO3^2-) do?
    Contributes negative charge; involved in energy transfer; found in organic phosphates.
  • How does the methyl group (-CH3) affect molecules?
    Affects gene expression and hormone function; found in methylated compounds.
  • What shape do molecules with single carbon bonds have?
    Tetrahedral shape due to four covalent bonds around carbon.
  • How does a double bond between carbons affect molecular shape?
    Creates a flat shape in the molecule.
  • What is the difference between cis and trans geometric isomers?
    Cis isomers have substituents on the same side; trans isomers have them on opposite sides.
  • Give an example of how enantiomers affect drug activity.
    Ibuprofen's S-enantiomer reduces pain, while the R-enantiomer is ineffective.
  • Why can hydrocarbons release a large amount of energy?
    Because their C-H bonds store energy that is released during reactions.