Carbon Compounds and Macromolecules

Flashcards covering carbon chemistry, valence bonding, polymerization, and carbohydrate structures and functions based on lecture material.

What does the term "organic chemistry" refer to today?

The chemistry of carbon.

What are the two primary reasons carbon is versatile enough to have its own branch of chemistry?

First, carbon atoms have $4$ valence electrons, allowing them to form strong covalent bonds with many elements. Second, a carbon atom can bond to another carbon atom, allowing it to form chains of almost unlimited length.

According to the student lecture notes, how are electrons distributed across the shells of a carbon atom?

The first shell contains $2$ electrons (stable), and the second shell contains $4$ electrons (needs $4$).

Which elements can carbon bond with to form compounds with many different chemical properties?

Hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and nitrogen.

What types of covalent bonds can form between carbon atoms, and what shapes can these chains make?

Carbon-carbon bonds can be single, double, or triple covalent bonds, and carbon chains can close up on themselves to form rings (such as benzene).

What four carbon structure examples are illustrated in Figure 2-12?

Methane (single bonds), Acetylene (triple bond), Butadiene (double bonds), and Benzene (ring).

What are macromolecules, and what does the term literally mean?

Macromolecules are large organic molecules found in living things; the term literally means "giant molecules."

What is polymerization?

The process in which larger compounds are built by joining smaller units, called monomers, together to form polymers.

What analogies are used to describe how monomers in a polymer may be identical or different?

They may be identical like the links on a metal watchband, or different like the beads in a multicolored necklace.

What are the four major groups of macromolecules found in living things?

Carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.

What elements make up carbohydrates, and in what typical ratio are they found?

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, usually in a ratio of $1:2:1$.

What are the primary functions of carbohydrates in organisms?

Organisms use carbohydrates to store and release energy, as well as for structural support and protection.

What are monosaccharides, and what are three examples given in the text?

Monosaccharides are single sugar molecules; examples include glucose, galactose (a component of milk), and fructose (found in many fruits).

What type of carbohydrate is sucrose (ordinary table sugar), and how is it formed?

Sucrose is a disaccharide made by joining together two simple sugars: fructose and glucose.

What are polysaccharides, and what are two examples mentioned in the text?

Polysaccharides are complex macromolecules formed by joining many monosaccharides together; examples include glycogen and starch.

What role does glycogen play in the human body?

Glycogen stores excess sugar; when blood glucose runs low, it breaks down into glucose released into the blood, and when stored in muscles, it supplies energy for muscle contraction and movement.

What do the vocabulary prefixes "mono-", "di-", and "poly-" mean?

"mono-" means one, "di-" means "two," and "poly-" means "many."