Carbon and Organic Molecules - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on carbon, organic molecules, macromolecules, functional groups, and related chemistry.

Carbon

Element central to organic molecules; tetravalent, enabling four covalent bonds and vast diversity in life.

Organic molecule

Molecule that contains carbon (often with hydrogen); capable of forming four covalent bonds, underpinning the diversity of life.

Monomer

A small subunit that can join with others to build polymers.

Polymer

A large molecule made of repeating monomer units; examples include polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Dehydration synthesis

Condensation reaction that joins monomers by forming a covalent bond with removal of water.

Hydrolysis

Reaction that breaks polymers into monomers by adding water.

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules composed of C, H, and O; usually with CH2O ratio; provide structure and energy.

Monosaccharide

Simple sugar; subunit of carbohydrates.

Glycosidic bond

Covalent bond linking monosaccharides in carbohydrates.

Lipids

Hydrophobic macromolecules (not true polymers) including fats, phospholipids, and steroids; store energy and form membranes.

Fatty acid

Hydrocarbon chain with a terminal carboxyl group; can be saturated or unsaturated.

Triglyceride

Neutral lipid formed by dehydration synthesis of glycerol with three fatty acids; major energy storage molecule.

Phospholipid

Lipid with glycerol, two fatty acids, and a phosphate-containing head; forms cellular membranes.

Steroid

Four-ring carbon structure; can be membrane components or hormones.

Protein

Macromolecule made of amino acids; functions include enzymes, structure, transport, and signaling.

Amino acid

Monomer of proteins; contains amino and carboxyl groups and a distinctive side chain.

Peptide bond

Covalent bond linking amino acids in proteins.

Nucleic acid

Macromolecule that stores and transmits genetic information (DNA and RNA).

Nucleotide

Subunit of nucleic acids; composed of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base.

Phosphodiester bond

Covalent bond linking nucleotides in nucleic acids.

Amino group

-NH2; polar; behaves as a base; common in amino acids.

Carboxyl group

-COOH; acidic; polar; common in amino acids and fatty acids.

Hydroxyl group

-OH; polar; found in carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and proteins.

Sulfhydryl group

-SH; forms disulfide bonds (S-S) in cysteine; helps stabilize protein structure.

Methyl group

-CH3; nonpolar.

Phosphate group

-OPO3H2; polar, negatively charged at physiological pH; found in ATP, nucleic acids, and phospholipids.

Electronegativity

Tendency to attract electrons; O and N are highly electronegative; C and H are less so.

Polar

Molecule with an uneven distribution of charge; often hydrophilic.

Nonpolar

Molecule with even distribution of charge; typically hydrophobic.

Hydrophilic

Water-loving; polar or charged; dissolves in water.

Hydrophobic

Water-fearing; nonpolar; insoluble in water.

Functional group

Group of atoms within a molecule that confers specific properties and reactivity.

CH2O ratio

Empirical formula for carbohydrates; approximately 1 carbon: 2 hydrogens: 1 oxygen.