Organic Molecules - VOCABULARY Flashcards (BIOL 1020 Chapter 4)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts: carbon bonding, isomers, hydrocarbons, and the seven major functional groups from the notes.

Organic molecule

Compounds that contain at least one carbon atom covalently bonded to another carbon or hydrogen; carbon-centered foundation of life.

Carbon bonding (covalent bonds)

Carbon tends to form covalent bonds by sharing electrons, allowing up to four covalent bonds per atom.

CHNOPS

The six most important elements in biology: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O), Phosphorus (P), and Sulfur (S).

Hydrocarbon

A molecule that contains only carbon and hydrogen; typically features C–C single bonds that allow rotation.

Single C–C bond rotation

Rotation around a carbon–carbon single bond, giving flexibility to organic molecules.

Carbon backbone

The central chain or framework of carbon atoms that forms the main structure of organic molecules.

Tetrahedral geometry

Geometry around a carbon with four substituents, with bond angles of about 109.5 degrees.

Bond angle 109.5°

Angle typical of single bonds in a tetrahedral arrangement around carbon.

Bond angle 120°

Angle typical around a carbon–carbon double bond (C=C), where atoms lie in the same plane.

Structural isomer

Isomers with the same molecular formula but different covalent arrangements of atoms.

Stereoisomer

Isomers with the same covalent bonds but different spatial arrangement of atoms.

Cis/trans isomer

A type of stereoisomer around a C=C bond; cis = same side, trans = opposite sides.

Enantiomer

Non-superimposable mirror-image isomer; often only one form is biologically active; designated as D/L or R/S.

Teratogenic

Capable of causing birth defects; example: Thalidomide showed small chemical changes can have major biological effects.

Functional group

A specific group of atoms covalently bonded to a carbon backbone that determines reactivity and properties.

Hydroxyl group (-OH)

Polar group found in alcohols; contributes to polarity and hydrogen bonding.

Carbonyl group (-C=O)

Polar group found in aldehydes and ketones; important in reactivity of many compounds.

Carboxyl group (-COOH)

Weakly acidic group found in carboxylic acids and amino acids.

Amino group (-NH2)

Weakly basic group found in amino acids; can accept a proton.

Sulfhydryl group (-SH)

Nonpolar thiol group found in some amino acids (e.g., cysteine); can form disulfide bonds.

Phosphate group (-PO4H2)

Weakly acidic group found in nucleic acids and phospholipids; contributes to energy transfer and structure.

Methyl group (-CH3)

Nonpolar, hydrophobic group found in lipids and membrane components.