AP Biology - Chemistry of Carbon and Macromolecules

Vocabulary flashcards based on AP Biology lecture notes focusing on the chemistry of carbon and macromolecules.

Organic Chemistry

The study of carbon compounds.

Carbon Atoms

Versatile building blocks due to their bonding properties, forming 4 stable covalent bonds.

Hydrocarbons

Combinations of carbon and hydrogen; non-polar, hydrophobic, and stable.

Methane

Simplest hydrocarbon, a gas at room temperature.

Isomers

Molecules with the same molecular formula but different structures and shapes.

Form Affects Function

Structural differences that create functional significance in molecules.

Thalidomide

An isomer of a drug that caused severe birth defects when prescribed to pregnant women.

Functional Groups

Parts of organic molecules involved in chemical reactions, giving them distinctive properties.

Reactivity

Increases solubility in water, making hydrocarbons hydrophilic.

Hydroxyl

Organic compounds with OH groups, names typically end in -ol.

Carbonyl

O double bonded to C; if at the end of molecule, it's an aldehyde; if in the middle, it's a ketone.

Carboxyl

C double bonded to O & single bonded to OH group; compounds are acids like fatty acids & amino acids.

Amino

N attached to 2 H; compounds are amines, acting as a base, picking up H+ from solution.

Sulfhydryl

S bonded to H; compounds are thiols, stabilizing the structure of proteins.

Phosphate

P bound to 4 O; connects to C through an O; transfers energy between organic molecules (ATP, GTP).

Macromolecules

Large organic molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Polymers

Long molecules built by linking repeating building blocks in a chain.

Monomers

The building blocks of polymers, repeated small units.

Dehydration Synthesis

Joins monomers by removing H2O; one monomer donates OH–, the other donates H+; requires energy & enzymes.

Hydrolysis

Breaks down polymers using H2O; H2O is split into H+ and OH–, which attach to ends; requires enzymes.

Alcohol

A carbon skeleton with an attached hydroxyl group (-OH); examples include ethanol.

Carbonyl Group

A carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O).

Aldehyde

A carbonyl group (C=O) located at the end of a carbon skeleton.

Ketone

A carbonyl group (C=O) located within the carbon skeleton.

Carboxyl Group

A carbon atom both double-bonded to an oxygen atom and single-bonded to a hydroxyl group (-COOH).

Amino Group

A nitrogen atom attached to two hydrogen atoms (-NH2).

Sulfhydryl Group

A sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (-SH).

Phosphate Group

A phosphorus atom bound to four oxygen atoms (-PO4).

Structural Isomers

Molecules that have the same molecular formula but differ in their structural arrangement.

Stereoisomers

Isomers that are mirror images of each other and differ in shape due to the presence of an asymmetric carbon.

Condensation Reaction

A chemical reaction in which two molecules are bonded together with the removal of a water molecule.

Polymer

Large molecules composed of many similar or identical small repeating units (monomers).

Monomer

The building blocks of polymers; small repeating units that can join to form larger molecules.

Unsaturated hydrocarbon

A hydrocarbon with one or more carbon-carbon double or triple bonds.

Saturated hydrocarbon

A hydrocarbon containing only single bonds between carbon atoms.

Carbohydrate

A compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with a hydrogen-oxygen ratio of 2:1.

Structural isomers

Molecules that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas

Constitutional isomers

Compounds that have the same molecular formula, but the atoms are connected in a different order

Hydrophobic

The property of hydrocarbons that they are repelled by water

Hydration reaction

A chemical reaction in which a molecule of water is added to a substance

Monomer

A molecule that can react together with other molecule of the same type to form a polymer

Polymer

A substance whose molecules consist of a large number of similar building blocks bonded together

Macromolecule

A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical building blocks, called monomers linked by covalent bonds

Dehydration reaction

A process in which two molecules bind together with the removal of a water molecule

Hydrolysis

Breaking the bond between monomers through the addition of water

Acid

A compound which can donate a proton in a chemical reaction

Base

A compound which can accept a proton in a chemical reaction

Hydrocarbon

A molecule consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms only

Covalent bond

A chemical bond where pairs of electrons are shared between atoms

Alkane

A compound in which carbon atoms are linked by single bonds