Chapter 2: The Chemistry of Carbon and Macromolecules

Comprehensive review flashcards covering organic chemistry concepts, carbon bonding, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins from lecture notes.

What is organic chemistry?

The study of all compounds that contain the atom Carbon.

How many electrons does Carbon have in its outer shell and how many covalent bonds can it form?

Carbon has $4$ electrons in its outer shell and can form $4$ covalent bonds with $4$ atoms.

What shared electron pair configurations correspond to single, double, and triple carbon-carbon bonds?

A single bond has $1$ shared electron pair, a double bond has $2$ shared electron pairs, and a triple bond has $3$ shared electron pairs.

What is a macromolecule?

Giant molecules made of many smaller molecules.

What are monomers, polymers, and polymerization?

Monomers are smaller units that combine to form a large compound called a polymer; polymerization is the process in which monomers are joined together to form a polymer.

What are the constituent elements, atomic ratio, and general formula of carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are composed of Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the proportion of $1:2:1$, with the general formula $(CH_2O)_n$ where $n$ is the number of carbons.

What is a monosaccharide and what are three examples?

A monosaccharide is a simple sugar molecule; examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose.

What is the structure and chemical formula of glucose?

Glucose is a small carbohydrate with $6$ carbons and has the chemical formula $C_6H_{12}O_6$.

What type of bond connects monosaccharides to form disaccharides like sucrose or lactose?

A Glycosidic Bond formed by covalent bonds.

What are the roles and characteristics of starch, glycogen, and cellulose?

Starch is a polysaccharide plants use to store energy; glycogen is stored glucose from starch used for energy in the liver of animals; cellulose consists of tough, flexible chains of glucose found in plants.

What are the monomers, elements, and primary functions of nucleic acids?

Nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) are polymers made of nucleotide monomers, contain $C, H, O, N, P$, and function to store and transmit hereditary information.

What three components make up a nucleotide?

A Five-carbon Sugar (Pentose), a Phosphate group, and a Nitrogenous base (such as adenine).

What components make up lipids, and what are their primary functions?

Lipids are made of fatty acids and glycerol; they function in energy storage, structural support, specific reactants for metabolic reactions, biological membranes, and waterproof coverings.

Why do lipids store more energy than carbohydrates, and what is their caloric comparison?

Lipids have more energy because they have more hydrogens bonded to the carbon chain, providing $9\text{ calories}$ in fat compared to $4\text{ calories}$ in carbohydrates.

What is the structural difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

Saturated fatty acids have all carbons bonded to hydrogen atoms and contain the maximum number of hydrogen bonds; unsaturated fatty acids contain carbon-to-carbon double bonds with less hydrogen.

What monomers make up proteins, and what main structural groups do they contain?

Proteins are polymers made of amino acid monomers; each amino acid contains an amino group, a carboxyl group, and an R-group (side chain).

How is a peptide bond formed between two amino acids?

A peptide bond forms between the amino end of one amino acid and the carboxyl group of another amino acid.

How many amino acids exist and what is the role of the R-group?

There are more than $20$ amino acids; the R-group is the section that is different between each amino acid.

What functions do proteins perform in living organisms and why is their 3D shape important?

Proteins form skin, muscle, and hair, play a role in metabolism, fight disease, assist chemical reactions as enzymes, and signal cellular functions; their 3D folding shape is important in recognition, identification, and function.