Carbon and Molecular Diversity of Life - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to carbon, bonding, and organic molecules from the lecture notes.

Organic compounds

Carbon-based compounds.

Big Four

Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Carbon—the four elements that commonly form covalent bonds in organic molecules.

Hydrogen

Valence = 1; one of the Big Four.

Oxygen

Valence = 2; one of the Big Four.

Nitrogen

Valence = 3; one of the Big Four.

Carbon

Valence = 4; can form covalent bonds with up to four other atoms.

Valence

The bonding capacity of an atom; the number of bonds it can form (e.g., H=1, O=2, N=3, C=4).

Covalent bond

A bond in which atoms share electrons; carbon can form single, double, or triple covalent bonds.

Single bond

A covalent bond where two atoms share one pair of electrons.

Double bond

A covalent bond where two atoms share two pairs of electrons.

Triple bond

A covalent bond where three pairs of electrons are shared.

Carbon skeleton

The backbone of an organic molecule formed by a chain of carbon atoms connected by covalent bonds; can be straight, branched, or rings.

Carbon is the backbone of life

The central role of carbon in forming the molecular diversity of life.