Chapter 4 - Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

Carbon Cycle

1. The process that exchanges carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms

Carbon Compounds

1. Carbohydrates

2. Lipids

3. Nucleic Acids

4. Proteins

Organic Chemistry

1. Study of compounds that contain carbon

2. Organic compounds range from small to extremely large

3. Most organic compounds contain hydrogen

4. Carbon is very good at forming long, complex bonds due to 4 valence electrons

Vitalism

1. Life force exists outside physical and chemical laws

2. Organic compounds can only be created in living organisms

3. Berzelius

Mechanism

1. All natural phenomena are governed by physical and chemical laws

2. Organic compounds can be produced in labs (abiotic synthesis)

3. Miller

Carbon Skeletons

1. Length

2. Branching

3. Double bond position

4. Prescence of Rings

Isomers

1. Compounds that have the same numbers of atoms of the same elements but arranged in a different structure so they have different properties

2. Structural isomers

   1. The bonds have large structural differences in the covalent bonds

3. Cis-trans isomers

   1. Carbons have covalent bonds to the same atoms but the atoms have different arrangements because double bonds are inflexible

   2. Cis isomers - 2 bonds on the same side

   3. Trans isomers - 2 bonds on opposite corners

4. Enantiomers

   1. Mirror images of each other that differ in shape due to an asymmetric carbon (Left and Right hands)

Hydrocarbons

1. Organic molecules consisting of only hydrogen and carbon

2. Nonpolar (hydrophobic

3. Ability to release large amounts of energy

4. Fossil fuels and fats

Functional Groups

1. Components of organic molecules most likely to be involved in a reaction

2. Number and arrangement of functional groups are what give molecules their properties

3. Consists of 7 different groups

   1. Hydroxyl Group

   2. Carbonyl Group

   3. Carboxyl Group

   4. Amino Group

   5. Sulfhydryl Group

   6. Phosphate Group

   7. Methyl Group

Hydroxyl Group

1. Called alcohols, which normally end in ol

2. Properties

   1. Polar as a result of electrons spending more time near the electronegative oxygen

   2. Can form hydrogen bonds with water, helping dissolve organic compounds like sugars

Carbonyl Group

1. Called ketones if the Carbonyl Group is inside the carbon skeleton and aldehydes if its outside

2. Properties

   1. A ketone and an aldehyde may be structural isomers with different properties

   2. Ketone and aldehyde groups are also found in sugars, which lead to two major groups of sugars, ketoses and aldoses

Carboxyl Group

1. Called carboxylic acids or organic acids

2. Properties

   1. Acts as an acid; Can donate a H⁺ because the covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen is so polar

   2. Found in cells in the ionized form with a charge of 1-, which is called a carboxylate ion

Amino Group

1. Called amines

2. Properties

   1. Acts as a base, can pick up an H⁺ from surrounding solution

   2. Found in cells in the ionized form with a charge of 1+

Sulfhydryl