Chapter 4- Carbon and Molecular Diversity of Life

Of the Bulk elements CHNOPS, if we exclude water

Carbon is the most abundant element in living systems

Carbon

The main component of organic molecules (carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids)

Organic molecules

Any molecules with covalently linked carbon and hydrogen atoms

Hydrocarbons

Organic molecules made of only Carbon and Hydrogen atoms

Carbons ability to form 4 bonds makes it

flexible “atomic building block” for a variety of molecules

What are the carbon “backbones” of organic molecules

Carbon Backbone length, position of double bonds, brands points, Linear vs. ring forms

Functional groups

groups of atoms that relative/functional and commonly found together

7 functional groups in biology 1)

Methyl Group

7 functional groups in biology 2)

Hydroxyl group

7 functional groups in biology 3)

Carbonyl Group

7 functional groups in biology 4)

Carboxyl Group

7 functional groups in biology 5)

Amino Group

7 functional groups in biology 6)

Phosphate group

7 functional groups in biology 7)

Sulfhydryl Group