CH 4 - Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

Flashcards covering key concepts related to carbon, organic chemistry, and the molecular diversity of life from the lecture.

Living organisms consist mostly of __ compounds.

carbon-based

Carbon can form __ bonds.

four

The study of compounds that contain carbon is called __ chemistry.

organic

Stanley Miller’s experiment demonstrated the abiotic synthesis of __ compounds.

organic

Carbon can bond to other __, resulting in carbon skeletons.

carbons

Enantiomers are important in the __ industry.

pharmaceutical

Functional groups are the components of organic molecules that are most commonly involved in __ reactions.

chemical

The two functional groups that are most important in the chemistry of life include and .

hydroxyl group; carbonyl group

Hydrocarbons are organic molecules consisting of only and .

carbon; hydrogen

Isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different and .

structures; properties

Distinguishing features between structural isomers and cis-trans isomers include differences in __ arrangements.

covalent

Carbon skeletons can vary in length, __, and presence of rings.

branching

An important source of energy for cellular processes is __ triphosphate (ATP).

adenosine

Molecules like estradiol and testosterone differ only in the __ groups attached to their carbon skeletons.

chemical

The electron configuration of carbon enables it to form a wide variety of __ molecules.

organic

Carbon atoms typically bond with hydrogen, oxygen, and __.

nitrogen

The ability of carbon to form large, complex molecules helps explain the __ of life.

molecular diversity

The overall percentages of major elements of life include C, H, O, N, S, and __.

P

Carbon can form __ bonds

four

Hydroxyl groups are characteristic of \\ and help them form hydrogen bonds, making them soluble in water.

alcohols

The presence of a carbonyl group defines \\ (if at the end of a carbon skeleton) and \\ (if within a carbon skeleton), which are important in sugars.

aldehydes; ketones

Carboxyl groups are found in \\ and are known to act as \\ by donating a proton (H^+).

carboxylic acids; acids

Amino groups are present in \\ and amino acids, and they primarily function as \\ by picking up H^+ from the surrounding solution

amines; bases

The \\ group is vital for energy transfer within cells, being a key component of ATP, and is also found in nucleic acids.

phosphate

Hydroxyl groups increase a molecule's ****** via hydrogen bonding, making them more soluble in water.

hydrophilicity

The carbonyl group contributes to the ****** of molecules and plays a role in defining different types of sugars, such as aldehydes and ketones.

polarity and reactivity

Carboxyl groups are characterized by their ability to ****** a proton (H^+), therefore acting as ****** in organic reactions.

donate; acids

Amino groups primarily act as ****** by their capacity to ****** H^+ from the surrounding solution.

bases; accept

The ****** group is vital for energy transfer within cells, being a key component of ATP, and is also found in nucleic acids.

phosphate

The sulfhydryl group (-SH) is important for stabilizing protein ****** by forming covalent ****** bonds.

structure; disulfide

The addition of a ****** group (-CH_3) can affect gene expression and, when attached to molecules like sex hormones, can alter their shape and biological function

methyl