Exam 1, Topic 2: The Carbon Atom

Organic chemistry

The science of carbon-containing molecules

Important features of carbon atoms

1. Can form 4 covalent bonds

2. Forms bonds that are stable at a large range of temperatures

3. Allows for a variety of configurations (linear, rings, branched)

Hydrocarbons

Molecules with a high proportion of hydrogen-carbon bonds

Functional groups

A group of atoms with a characteristic chemical structure that exhibits particular properties that remain constant in all molecules that the functional group is in

Amino group

-NH2

Carbonyl ketone group

-CO

Aldehyde group

-CHO

Carboxyl group

-COOH

Hydroxyl group

-OH

Methyl group

-CH3

Phosphate group

-PO4 2-

Sulfate group

-SO4-

Sulfhydryl group

-SH

Isomers

Two or more molecules with the same chemical formula but different structures and characteristics.

Structural isomers

Isomers that have the same atoms but in different bonding relationships.

ex. Urea & ammonium cyanate

Stereoisomer

Isomers with identical bonding relationships but different spatial positioning

Two types: cis-trans isomers and enantiomers

Cis-trans isomers

The atoms linked to the two carbons of a C=C bond are either on the same side (cis) or opposing sides (trans)

Difference in chemical properties of cis-trans isomers

Stability & sensitivity to heat and light

Enantiomers

A pair of isomers that exist as mirror images of each other; left and right-handed structures