Biochemistry Flashcards
What is organic chemistry?
The study of carbon-containing compounds (basis of biological life)
What is important about the structure of carbon?
Versatile with 4 valence electrons capable of forming single, double, triple covalent bonds
What is biochemistry?
The study of the chemistry that occurs in living systems, and it focuses on the biomolecules that are the building blocks of living organisms
What are the four categories of bio molecules?
Organic molecules that roughly fall into four categories:
- Carbohydrates (sugars)
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids
- Lipids
What are the building blocks of living organisms?
biomolecules
What are hydrocarbons?
Carbon readily forms bonds with itself and other atoms. Straight chained, branched chained and cyclic compounds
What are the two main types of hydrocarbon?
Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon (or arenes)
What are the three classifications for hydrocarbons? How are they classified?
Classified based on C-C bonds:
- Saturated
- Unsaturated
- Aromatic (type of cyclic bond)
What are aliphatic hydrocarbons (tree-like)?
Short or long, single or branched to include non-aromatic rings
How are aliphatic carbons named?
Named according to bond and number of C molecules
Alkane vs alkene vs alkyne
What is saturated mean?
Alkanes: Single-bonded carbon chains with ALL available carbon bonds attached to H
What is the reactivity of saturated (alkanes) hydrocarbons?
More “stable:” fats, paraffins, gasoline (which is a mix of alkanes)
What is unsaturated refer to?
Have one or more double or triple bonds between C atoms
Ex. - alkene vs alkyne
What is an alkanes?
Saturated, all carbon atoms hold together at the highest allowed amount of hydrogen atoms. This type of bond contains all single carbon to hydrogen bonds
What are alkenes?
Unsaturated, carbon atoms do not hold the highest allowed amount of hydrogen atoms. This type of atom contains at least one carbon to carbon double bond.
What are alkynes?
Unsaturated, This type of bond contains at least one carbon to carbon triple bond.
What type of structure is methane?
One hydrogen-saturated carbon (CH4)
What type of structure is ethane?
Two hydrogen-saturated carbons (C2H6)
What type of structure is propane?
Three hydrogen-saturated carbon (C3H8)
What type of structure is butane?
Four hydrogen-saturated carbons (C4H10)
Understand how to name a basic hydrocarbon.
Slide 8
Identify the structures on PowerPoint.
Slide 9
What are aromatic hydrocarbons (arenes)?
Special cyclic compounds, aromatic refers to type of bond between the C bonds (pi bonds) not odor! (although may have a pleasant odor)
What is an example of aromatic hydrocarbons? Why?
Benzene has alternating double-bond carbons in a 6-ring structure
Aromatic hydrocarbons (arenes ) are __________.
Unsaturated
Is cyclohexane an aromatic hydrocarbon (arenes)?
Compare to nonaromatic- ringed compounds or alicyclic
What are characteristic properties of benzenes (C6H6)?
Unsaturated. Colorless, flammable, sweet-smelling. lipophilic (cross cell membranes)
Why are benzenes important?
Provides the basis for many compounds.
What are functional groups?
Functional group is a specific group of atoms or bonds within a compound that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of that compound
What makes a hydrocarbon more reactive?
Saturated/unsaturated hydrocarbons missing H’s become more reactive
What are alkyls?
Saturated/unsaturated hydrocarbons missing H’s become more reactive: H removed from alkanes
What are examples of alkyls (4)?
Methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl
What are aryls?
Saturated/unsaturated hydrocarbons missing H’s become more reactive: Cyclic hydrocarbons missing H’s are also very reactive.
What is an example of a aryl?
Phenyl
Functional groups confer the characteristic _______ and _________ of the compounds that contain them
chemical and physical properties
What is the characteristic structure of functional groups?
Groups of chemicals attached attached to C in place of H atoms and tend to be hydrophilic
Why are functional groups important?
Play a significant role in directing and controlling organic reactions
What is an organic compound?
viewed as a backbone (skeleton) other groups of atoms, functional groups, attached at various points
A molecule containing several functional groups displays reactions that represents the sum of the reactions of each _______.
functional group
What are amines derived from?
ammonia (NH3)