Ch. 3 The Chemical Basis of Life II: Organic Molecules

Organic Chemistry: The branch of chemistry that focuses on the study of carbon-containing compounds, especially those that are part of living organisms. It includes the study of structures, properties, and reactions of organic molecules.

Functional Group: A specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the molecule’s characteristic chemical reactions. Common examples include hydroxyl groups (-OH), carbonyl groups (C=O), and amino groups (-NH₂).

Isomer: Compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements of atoms. Isomers can have different physical and chemical properties, such as glucose and fructose, which are both C₆H₁₂O₆ but arranged differently.

Biological Molecules: Large molecules found in living organisms, typically composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. They include proteins, nucleic acids (DNA, RNA), lipids, and carbohydrates, and are essential for life processes.

Polymer: A large molecule (macromolecule) made up of repeating subunits (monomers) bonded together. Examples include proteins (made of amino acid monomers), DNA (made of nucleotide monomers), and cellulose (made of glucose monomers).

Monomer: A small molecule that can combine with other monomers to form a polymer. For example, glucose is a monomer that can link together to form starch (a polymer).

Dehydration Synthesis: A chemical reaction where two molecules are covalently bonded together, with the removal of a water molecule. This is how many biological polymers, like proteins and polysaccharides, are formed.

Hydrolysis: The reverse of dehydration synthesis; it's a chemical reaction where a water molecule is added to break the covalent bond between two monomers in a polymer. Hydrolysis is involved in the breakdown of large biological molecules like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.