Chapter 2: Carbon, Organic Molecules, Isomers, and Functional Groups

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the video lecture notes on carbon, organic molecules, isomers, and functional groups.

Carbon

An element with 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons; central to organic chemistry.

Organic molecules

Molecules that contain carbon.

Tetravalence

Carbon’s ability to form four covalent bonds.

Hydrocarbons

Compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen that store energy.

Carbon skeleton

The chain or arrangement of carbon atoms in a molecule; changes in its shape can alter function.

Isomer

Molecules with the same chemical formula but different structures, leading to different functions.

Antioxidant

A substance that inhibits oxidation by neutralizing free radicals (Lycopene is an example).

Free radical

A highly reactive atom or molecule with an unpaired electron that can start damaging chain reactions.

Enantiomer

A non-superimposable mirror-image pair of a molecule (left- vs right-handed forms).

Lycopene

A carotenoid antioxidant that inhibits oxidation.

Functional group

A specific group of atoms that largely determines solubility, reactivity, and digestibility of a molecule.

Methyl group

Nonpolar and typically nonreactive; can act as a biological tag influencing gene expression.

Hydroxyl group

OH group; forms hydrogen bonds with water, aiding solubility; not the same as hydroxide (OH−).

Aldehyde

A carbonyl group located at the terminal carbon of the carbon skeleton.

Ketone

A carbonyl group located within the carbon skeleton (interior carbon).

Carbonyl group

Functional group C=O present in aldehydes and ketones.

Carboxyl group

COOH functional group; acidic and readily donates H+ in solution.

Carboxylic acid

A molecule containing a carboxyl group; lactic acid is an example.

Amines

Nitrogen-containing functional group; acts as a base and can accept H+.,

Amino group

Nitrogen-containing group; part of amino acids; can accept H+.

Sulfhydryl

Sulfhydryl (–SH) group; two SH groups can form disulfide bonds and help stabilize proteins.

Phosphate group

Oxygen-containing group that can release energy upon reaction with water; found in phospholipids forming cell membranes.

Phospholipids

Lipids containing a phosphate group; form the backbone of cell membranes.

Fructose

A ketose sugar; carbonyl group attached to an interior carbon.

Glucose

An aldose sugar; carbonyl group attached to a terminal carbon.

Aldose

A sugar with an aldehyde group; carbonyl at the terminal carbon.

Ketose

A sugar with a ketone group; carbonyl on an interior carbon.

Lactic acid

A carboxylic acid used here as an example of a carboxyl-containing molecule.

Ethanol

An alcohol characterized by a hydroxyl group (−OH) attached to an carbon chain.