Biology Chapter 4: Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

What are the six most important chemical elements of life?

Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, phosphate, sulfur

Using modern equipment, a former graduate student of Stanley Miller recently reanalyzed the sample results of volcano simulation experiments that Miller conducted along with his classic experiment described in the text. This reanalysis did which of the following?

Identified additional organic compounds that had not been found by Miller

Stanley Miller's experiments were significant because he demonstrated that __________.

a variety of simple organic compounds could be spontaneously synthesized from components in Earth's primitive atmosphere

Which of the following is an organic molecule?

CH₄

What is the three-dimensional shape created by hybrid orbitals that are formed when a carbon atom is covalently bonded with four other atoms?

A tetrahedron with carbon in the center

A pharmaceutical company was forced to recall a pain reliever medication that had been linked to the fatalities of several hundred people. Analysis of the recalled drug revealed the presence of two isomers due to an asymmetrical carbon atom in the drug molecule. What can be hypothesized from this observation?

The isomers are enantiomers, with one having toxic effects on humans.

A straight-chain carbon compound constructed from __________ must contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond.

6 hydrogen atoms and 3 carbon atoms

What is the reason carbon atoms are the most versatile building blocks of the molecules used by living organisms?

Each carbon atom acts as an intersection point from which a molecule can branch off in up to four directions.

The carbon atom possesses __________ valence electron(s).

4

Which of the following are properties of hydrocarbons?

Hydrophobic, nonpolar, good source of stored energy

A molecule has one carbon-carbon double bond and four monovalent atoms or groups. How many different cis-trans isomers exist for this molecule?

two

The two compounds are related to each other by being __________.

hydrocarbons, isomers, organic compounds, and double-bonded compounds

Pharmaceutical companies are selling billions of dollars' worth of single-enantiomer drugs. Why might it be important to use only one form of an enantiomer?

One enantiomer may provide an effective treatment whereas the other may be ineffective or even toxic.

Which of the following functional groups is present in all amino acids?

—NH₂

Which of these is found in all amino acids?

both —COOH and —NH₂

Ethanol, propanol, and methanol are three simple alcohols. They can be grouped together because they __________.

share the same functional group: a hydroxyl

Which of the following molecules has a carboxyl functional group?

R—COOH

Which of the following functional groups increases the solubility of organic compounds in water?

All of the listed responses are correct.

Which of the following examples best describes a unique functional property of the carboxyl group?

The covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen is so polar that hydrogen ions tend to dissociate from oxygen reversibly.

Which of the following functional groups is associated with a release of energy when removed from the carbon skeleton with water?

Phosphate group

Which functional group would you predict is part of abscisic acid?

Carboxyl group

Which of the following groups is capable of hydrogen bonding with an oxygen atom on another functional group?

All of the listed responses are correct.

Which of these is a thiol?

None of the listed responses is correct.

What is ATP's importance in the cell?

ATP stores the potential to react with water, thereby removing a phosphate group and releasing energy for cellular processes.