Bio Chapter 4 Study Guide

Organic

Compounds that contain carbon.

Hydrocarbon

Organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen. Hydrophobic (nonpolar) and can release relatively large amounts of energy through reactions.

Isomer

Compounds that have the same numbers of atoms of the same elements (same formula) but different structures and hence different properties.

Structural Isomer

Differ in the covalent arrangements of their atoms or location of double bonds. Same formula, different skeleton.

Cis-trans isomer

Have covalent bonds to the same atoms, but these atoms differ in spatial arrangements due to the inflexibility of double bonds. Differ in arrangement around the double bonds.

Enantiomer

Mirror images of each other and differ in shape due to the presence of an asymmetric carbon (attached to four different atoms/groups of atoms). Surrounding groups can be arranged in 2 different ways around the carbon that are mirror images. “Left-handed + right handed” versions of the molecule. Both have different effects.

Functional group

Chemical groups that are directly involved in chemical reactions.

ATP

Significance of the Miller-Urey experiment

How carbon is able to form the backbone of so many complex organic molecules

Hydroxyl

Carbonyl

Carboxyl

Sulfhydryl

Phosphate

Methyl