Carbon and Elements of Life

Question 1

Typical living systems are composed…

Answer 1

(99% by weight) of six elements:
C, H, N, O, P, and S. Seventeen other elements occur in
minute quantities or as traces.

Question 2

Organic molecules:

Answer 2

• Chains of carbon atoms with
  other atoms or groups
  (“functional groups”)
  attached.

-Carbon is tetravalent:

• can make up to 4 covalent
  bonds
• therefore, suited to making
  complex molecules

Question 3

Carbon is the Basic
Building Block of Biomolecules:

Answer 3

Carbon can form an almost infinite number of
compounds as a result of its capacity to make as
many as four highly stable bonds.

• Single bonds, double bonds, and triple bonds.
• Carbons can be tetrahedral, trigonal or linear.
• Of the over 7 million chemical compounds that are
  presently known, over 90% are carbon-containing
  substances.

Question 4

Variation in carbon skeletons:

Answer 4

Length, branching, double bonds, rings

Question 5

Biomolecules are made of…

Answer 5

carbon,
which can make
single, double and
triple bonds

-Triple bonds
are very rare

Question 6

The “Language” of Biochemistry

Answer 6

• Names of functional groups
• High energy bonds