Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
- Carbon Chemistry * Carbon is the backbone of biological molecules * All living organisms are made up of chemicals based mostly on the element carbon * Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds * Carbon atoms can form diverse molecules by bonding to four other atoms * Carbon compounds range from simple molecules to complex ones * Carbon has four valence electrons and may from single, double, triple, or quadruple bonds * The bonding versatility of carbon allows it to form many diverse molecules, including carbon skeleton * The electron configuration of carbon gives it covalent compatibility with many different elements * Carbon may bond to itself, forming carbon chains * Carbon chains form the skeletons of most organic molecules * Carbon chains vary in length and shape
- Hydrocarbons * Hydrocarbons are molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen * Hydrocarbons are found in many of a cell’s organic molecules
- Isomers * Isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but different structures and properties * Three types of isomers are * Structural * Geometric * Enantiomers * Important in the pharmaceutical industry
- Functional groups * Functional groups are the parts of molecules involved in chemical reactions * They are the chemically reactive groups of atoms within an organic molecule * Each organic molecule has distinctive chemical properties
