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
