Chemistry of life

Organic Compounds

Compounds where carbon atoms covalently bond with one another to form the backbone of a molecule.

Inorganic Compounds

Compounds where carbon is not covalently bonded with another carbon or to a hydrogen, such as carbon dioxide.

Carbon Atoms

Atoms with 4 electrons in their valence shell, allowing them to form four covalent bonds.

Hydrocarbons

Organic compounds consisting only of carbon and hydrogen, existing in unbranched or branched chains or rings.

Isomers

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

Structural Isomers

Isomers that differ in the covalent arrangement of their atoms.

Geometric Isomers

Isomers that have the same covalent bonds but differ in the spatial arrangement of atoms, often seen in carbon-carbon double bonds.

Cis-Trans Isomers

A type of geometric isomer where "cis" means groups are on the same side of a double bond and "trans" means they are on opposite sides.

Enantiomers

Isomers that are mirror images of each other.

Functional Groups

Groups of atoms that determine the chemical reactions and associations of a compound.

Methyl Group

A nonpolar hydrocarbon group abbreviated as R—CH3.

Hydroxyl Group

A polar group (R–OH) that can significantly alter the properties of molecules.

Carbonyl Group

A group with a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom, which is hydrophilic.

Aldehyde

A carbonyl group positioned at the end of a carbon skeleton (R–CHO).

Ketone

A carbonyl group located internally within a carbon skeleton (R–CO–R).

Carboxyl Group

A group (R–COOH) with a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen and single-bonded to a hydroxyl group, which can release a hydrogen ion.

Amino Group

A group (R–NH2) containing a nitrogen atom covalently bonded to two hydrogen atoms, which can accept hydrogen ions.

Phosphate Group

A weakly acidic group (R–PO4H2) that can release one or two units of negative charge.

Sulfhydryl Group

A group (R—SH) consisting of a sulfur atom covalently bonded to a hydrogen atom, important in protein structure.

Macromolecules

Large biological molecules consisting of thousands of atoms, often referred to as polymers.

Polymers

Large molecules produced by linking small organic compounds called monomers.

Monomers

Small organic compounds that can be linked in various ways to form polymers, such as amino acids forming proteins.