Biochemistry Flashcards
What do organic molecules contain?
Both carbon and hydrogen atoms
Name the four classes of organic molecules?
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleic Acids
What is another name for organic molecules?
Biomolecules
How many electrons does the carbon atom have? And how many in each shell?
6 electrons
2 in the first shell
4 in the outer shell
How many covalent bonds can carbon form?
4 covalent bonds
What can carbon bond with?
- Carbon
- Nitrogen
- Hydrogen
- Oxygen
- Phosphorus
- Sulfur
What are covalent bonds?
Covalent bonds occur when atoms share one or more pairs of electrons
What are long chains of carbon called?
hydrocarbons
What is the carbon chain of an organic molecule called?
Its skeleton or backbone
What are functional groups?
Functional groups are clusters of specific atoms bonded to the carbon skeleton with characteristic structures and functions
What do functional groups determine?
The chemical reactivity and polarity of organic molecules
What are isomers?
Isomers are organic molecules that have identical molecular formulas but different arrangements of atoms.
What do biomolecules (organic molecules) usually consist of? Describe in further detail.
- Usually consist of many repeating units.
- Each unit is called monomer.
What is a molecule composed of monomers called?
Is called a polymer (many parts)
What is an example of a polymer?
Amino acids (monomer) joining together to form a protein (polymer)