Chapter 4 Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts, and functional groups from Chapter 4 on carbon chemistry and molecular diversity.

Organic Chemistry

The study of carbon compounds.

Vitalism

The idea that organic compounds arise only in organisms.

Mechanism

The view that all natural phenomena are governed by physical and chemical laws.

Tetravalence

The property of carbon having four valence electrons, enabling it to form four covalent bonds with a variety of atoms.

Hydrocarbons

Organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen.

Isomers

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures and properties.

Structural Isomers

Isomers that have different covalent arrangements of their atoms.

Cis-Trans Isomers

Also known as geometric isomers, these are compounds that have the same covalent arrangements but differ in spatial arrangements about a double bond.

Cis Isomer

A geometric isomer in which two attached atoms or groups of atoms are on the same side of a double bond.

Trans Isomer

A geometric isomer in which two attached atoms or groups of atoms are on opposite sides of a double bond.

Enantiomers

Isomers that are mirror images of each other, differing in spatial arrangement around an asymmetric carbon and unable to be superimposed.

Functional Groups

The components of organic molecules most commonly involved in chemical reactions that give each molecule its unique properties.

Hydroxyl Group

A functional group (may be written as $HO-$) present in alcohols that is polar as a result of the electronegative oxygen atom drawing electrons toward itself and forms hydrogen bonds with water.

Carbonyl Group

A functional group present in ketones (when within a carbon skeleton) and aldehydes (when at the end of the carbon skeleton).

Carboxyl Group

A functional group present in carboxylic acids (organic acids) that has acidic properties because it is a source of hydrogen ions ($H^+$).

Amino Group

A functional group present in amines that acts as a base and can pick up a proton from the surrounding solution.

Sulfhydryl Group

A functional group (may be written as $HS-$) present in thiols, where two groups can interact to form a disulfide bridge to help stabilize protein structure.

Phosphate Group

A functional group present in organic phosphates that makes the molecule an anion, can transfer energy between organic molecules, and confers the ability to react with water to release energy.

Methyl Group

A functional group present in methylated compounds that affects gene expression when added to DNA and influences the shape and function of sex hormones.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The primary energy-transferring molecule in the cell, consisting of an organic molecule called adenosine attached to a string of three phosphate groups.