The Chemistry of Carbon

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary related to organic chemistry, specifically the chemistry of carbon, macromolecules, and their functions.

Organic chemistry

The study of all compounds that contain the atom carbon.

Macromolecule

Large molecules made of many smaller molecules.

Polymer

A large compound formed from combinations of smaller units called monomers.

Monomer

The building block of a polymer, a single unit structure.

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically represented by the formula (CHO).

Glucose

A monosaccharide with the chemical formula C6H12O6, known as a small carbohydrate.

Disaccharide

A sugar molecule made from two monosaccharides bonded together.

Polysaccharides

Macromolecules formed from many monosaccharides linked by covalent bonds.

Starch

A polysaccharide used by plants to store energy, made of many glucose molecules.

Glycogen

The stored form of glucose in animals, particularly in the liver.

Cellulose

A tough, flexible polysaccharide that forms the cell walls of plants.

Nucleic Acids

Polymers made of nucleotides that store and transmit genetic information.

Lipids

Molecules that function in energy storage, structural support, and as reactants for metabolic reactions.

Saturated fat

Fats in which all carbon atoms are bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms, typically solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fat

Fats that contain one or more double bonds between carbon atoms, typically liquid at room temperature.

Amino acids

Building blocks of proteins, each with an amino group, carboxyl group, and an R group that varies between different amino acids.

Proteins

Polymers made from amino acids that play critical roles in the body such as enzymes, muscle formation, and immune responses.