Organic Chemistry with a Biological Emphasis: Structure and Bonding

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on organic chemistry focusing on structure and bonding.

Capsaicin

A chemical compound found in hot chili peppers that causes a burning sensation.

TrpV1 Receptor

A mammalian receptor protein that detects heat and is activated by capsaicin.

Organic Chemistry

The branch of chemistry that studies the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds, primarily those containing carbon.

Lewis Structure

A diagram that shows the bonding between atoms and the lone pairs of electrons in a molecule.

Formal Charge

The charge assigned to an atom in a molecule, calculated by comparing the number of valence electrons in the isolated atom to the number of electrons assigned to that atom in the molecule.

Functional Group

A specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of that molecule.

Constitutional Isomers

Compounds that have the same molecular formula but different connectivity of atoms.

Alkane

A hydrocarbon that contains only single bonds between carbon atoms.

Alkene

A hydrocarbon that contains at least one carbon-carbon double bond.

Alkyne

A hydrocarbon that contains at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.

Peptide Bond

The covalent bond formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.

Hydrophobic Tail

The non-polar end of a molecule that repels water, typically found in lipids.

Hydrophilic Head

The polar end of a molecule that attracts water, commonly found in lipids.

Isomer

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures.

Polymer

A large molecule made up of repeating structural units (monomers) connected by covalent bonds.

Dihydroxyacetone

A simple carbohydrate that is a precursor in the biosynthesis of lipids.

Amino Acid

Organic compounds that combine to form proteins and contain both an amino group and a carboxyl group.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Thiol

An organic compound that contains a sulfur-hydrogen (–SH) group.

Imine

A functional group containing a carbon-nitrogen double bond.

Carboxylic Acid

An organic acid containing a carboxyl group (-COOH), known for being acidic.

Phosphate Ester

A compound formed by the reaction of an alcohol with a phosphate group.

R Group

A variable group in an organic compound, often used to represent different functional groups.

Acid Halide

A functional group derived from a carboxylic acid where the hydroxyl group is replaced by a halogen.