Chapter 4- Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

what are organic compounds

containing carbon

what does CHNOPS stand for

carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur

why is CHNOPS important?

they are the major elements of life

what is vitalism

theory that the origin and phenomena of life are dependent on a force or principle distinct from purely chemical or physical forces

what is mechanism

a system of casually interacting parts and processes that produce one of more effects

what were the results of the Stanley miller experiment

identified variety of organic molecules common in living organisms overall biological thought was shifted from vitalism to mechanism

what was the conclusion of the Stanley miller experiment

organic molecules can be synthesized abiotically (without involvement of living organisms)

what are valence electrons

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding

what does electron configuration determine

the kinds and numbers of bonds an atom can form with other atoms

what kinds of bonds can carbon form

single, double, and triple covalent bonds

what is a covalent bond

A covalent bond is a type of chemical bond where atoms share pairs of electrons to achieve stability.

what are hydrocarbons

molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen

what are isomers?

isomers are organic compounds with the same chemical formula but different structural formulas

why are isomers important?

because they exhibit different physical and chemical properties due to their unique structures

what are the three types of isomers

structural, geometric (cis-trans), and enantiomers (mirror-images)

structural isomer

differ in the arrangement of covalent bonding partners

geometric isomer

differ in arrangement about a double bond

enantiomers

differ in spacial arrangement around an asymmetric carbon, results in molecules that are mirror images like left and right hands

what are functional groups

characteristic chemical groups attached to the carbon skeleton

what are the 6 functional groups

hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl, phosphate

what is a common characteristic of all groups

hydrophilic

hydroxyl group description

consists of hydrogen and oxygen, called alcohols, polar and soluble in water

carbonyl group description

consists of a carbon double bonded to an oxygen, increases reactivity

carboxyl group description

consists of a carbon double bonded to an oxygen and also attached to a hydroxyl group

amino group description

consists of a nitrogen atom bonded to two hydrogens, called aminos, can act as bases that pick of H+ ions

sulfhydryl group description

consists of a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen, called thiols, cross links in 3-D protein conformation

phosphate group description

consists of an oxygen attached to a phosphorus atom that is bonded to 3 other oxygen atoms, used in energy transfer