Chapter 4: Carbon

These flashcards cover key concepts from Chapter 4 on carbon and its role in organic chemistry, including structures, functional groups, and isomer types.

What is the focus of organic chemistry?

The study of carbon compounds.

What makes carbon a versatile element?

Carbon has 4 bonding sites.

What type of structure does carbon produce in compounds?

A tetrahedral structure.

Name three elements that commonly bond with carbon.

Oxygen (O), Sulfur (S), Nitrogen (N), Hydrogen (H), Phosphorus (P).

What are hydrocarbons?

Variations of the carbon skeleton that consist of carbon and hydrogen.

What is an example of a straight-chain hydrocarbon?

Ethane (C2H6).

What is the general formula for butane?

C4H10.

What are isomers?

Compounds with the same number of atoms from the same elements but different structures.

List the three types of isomers.

Structural, Geometric (cis or trans), Enantiomers (chirality).

What functional group is represented as —OH?

Hydroxyl group.

What functional group is represented as -C=O?

Carbonyl group.

What is the function of the carboxyl group (—COOH)?

It donates H+ and forms organic acids.

What is the purpose of the amino group (—NH2)?

It acts as a base and can pick up H+ molecules.

What is the significance of the phosphate group (—PO4)?

It can donate negative charges and is reactive with water.

What distinguishes the methyl group (—CH3)?

It is used for molecular recognition.

What is ATP?

Adenine Tri-Phosphate, used as an energy transfer molecule.