Carbohydrates & lipids - properties of carbon Flashcards
What type of bond forms when a pair of electrons are shared between two atoms?
Covalent bond
A covalent bond is represented by a short straight line between the two atoms, e.g. H-H.
How many electrons does carbon have in its outer shell?
Four electrons
This allows carbon to form four covalent bonds.
In which major categories of biological molecules is carbon present?
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids
Life on Earth is often described as ‘carbon based’ due to the presence of carbon in these molecules.
What structural arrangement allows carbon to form a variety of chemical compounds?
Tetrahedral structure
This structure allows for different 3-D shapes and hence, different biological properties.
What is an example of a molecule that contains two double bonds?
Carbon dioxide
This showcases carbon’s ability to form multiple bonds.
What type of groups can carbon atoms form that give organic compounds their individual properties?
- Hydroxyl groups
- Carboxyl groups
- Amino groups
- Phosphate groups
These functional groups are crucial for the characteristics of organic compounds.
True or False: Carbon can only bond with other carbon atoms.
False
Carbon can bond with other atoms such as hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur.
Fill in the blank: Carbon can form long straight chain molecules such as _______.
Cellulose
This is an example of carbon’s ability to form various structures.
What is the significance of scientific conventions in the global scientific community?
They allow clear communication among scientists
Scientific conventions are agreed upon and used internationally.
What does SI stand for in the context of scientific conventions?
Système international
This refers to the international system of units.
What is the SI unit prefix for 10^-3?
Milli
Examples of other prefixes include kilo (10^3) and micro (10^-6).
What types of bonds can carbon atoms form with adjacent carbon atoms?
Single, double, and triple bonds
This allows for the formation of unsaturated compounds.
What type of molecules can carbon form with long branched chains?
Glycogen
This illustrates carbon’s versatility in forming different structures.
What are pyrimidines?
Cyclic single ring molecules including thymine, uracil, and cytosine
These are examples of carbon-containing molecules with specific structures.
What is an example of a molecule that contains multiple rings?
Starches and purines
Purines include adenine and guanine.
How many single covalent bonds can carbon atoms form?
up to four single covalent bonds or a combination of double and single bonds
