AP Bio Unit 1 Topic 2 - Chemistry of Life

Biochemistry,

Organic chemistry

The study of compounds with covalently bonded carbon

Organic compounds

Compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen

4

Carbon has __ valence electrons

Carbon

________ can from single, double, or triple covalent bonds

4

A single carbon can form up to four covalent bonds and can form LONG chains

hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen

Carbon most commonly forms with hydrogen, ocygen, and nitrogen

Length, shape

The type and number of covalent bonds carbon forms with other atoms affects the ________ of the carbon chain and ________ of the molecule

Valence, covalent

Carbon can use its _______ electrons to form _______ bonds to other carbons which links carbon into a chain

Hydrocarbons

Organic molecules consisting of carbon and hydrogen (think: simple framework for more complex organic molecules)

Skeletons

Carbon chains form the _________ of most organic molecules

Hydrocarbons

Many regions of a cell’s organic molecules contain _____________

Functional groups

Chemical groups attached to the carbon skeleton that participate in chemical reactions