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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

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