Campbell Biology Chap 4 Flashcards
Why can carbon form large, complex molecules
because it has four valence electrons, allowing it to form stable covalent bonds with many other atoms, including itself
what is a carbon skeleton
the basic framework of a molecule, formed by a chain of carbon atoms covalently bonded together, which serves as the backbone of all organic compounds
Describe Hydrocarbons
Organic Molecules consisting only of Hydrogen and Carbon
Are Hydrocarbons Hydrophillic or Hydrophobic
Hydrophobic
Fats have a long ___________ tails
Hydrocarbon
Another characteristic of hydrocarbons is that they can undergo reactions that release a ___________ of energy.
relatively large amount
What are Isomers
Compounds that have the same number of atoms of the same elements as another compound but different structures
What are Structural Isomers
Isomers that differ in covalent arrangement of atoms
Cis-trans Isomers are also known as
Geometric isomers
What are Cis-Trans Isomers
2 different Isomers where if there are (for ex. 2 different atoms each bonded to a 2 covalently bonded carbon, and both of the same atom are on the same side of the bond (the up or down side) it is called a “Cis” isomer, while if they aren’t, it is called a “Trans” Isomer) note that they can only appear in double covalent bonds
What are Enantiomers
isomers that are mirror images of each other and that differ in shape due to the presence of an asymmetric carbon
What are functional groups
chemical groups directly involved in chemical reactions
chemical groups most important in biological
processes are
hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl, phosphate, and methyl
What is Hydroxyl Group made of
–OH
Properties of Hydroxyl Group
Polar due to electronegative oxygen, forms hydrogen bonds with water, helps dissolve compounds like sugar.
