Carbon and Organic Molecules

Question 1

What is carbon’s role in living organisms?

Answer 1

Carbon makes up important living molecules called organic molecules.

Question 2

What are the most common elements in organic molecules?

Answer 2

Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen are the most common elements in organic molecules.

Question 3

How many covalent bonds can carbon form?

Answer 3

Carbon can form four covalent bonds due to the four unpaired electrons in its valence shell.

Question 4

Why can carbon-based molecules have structural diversity?

Answer 4

Carbon bonds can rotate freely, contributing to the structural diversity of carbon-based molecules.

Question 5

How can carbon atoms link together?

Answer 5

Carbon atoms can link with other carbon atoms through covalent bonds, forming long chains that can be branched or have carbon atoms at the ends.

Question 6

What is ethane?

Answer 6

Ethane is an example of a simple organic molecule formed by carbon-carbon single bonds.

Question 7

What happens when adjacent carbon atoms share two electrons?

Answer 7

This forms a double bond, which is shorter than a single bond and does not rotate freely.

Question 8

What is the effect of double bonds in organic molecules?

Answer 8

Double bonds cause a kink in the chain, affecting the molecule’s melting point and bonding.

Question 9

What are isomers?

Answer 9

Isomers are different structures of the same chemical formula, affecting the functioning of the protein and how it interacts.

Question 10

What is silicon’s bonding ability?

Answer 10

Silicon can bond with four other elements, similar to carbon, but it also readily binds to oxygen.

Question 11

What is unique about silicon on Earth?

Answer 11

Almost all silicon atoms on Earth are bound to oxygen.

Question 12

What is a monomer?

Answer 12

A monomer is a molecule that can react together with other monomers to form a larger polymer chain.

Question 13

What is a polymer?

Answer 13

A polymer is a complex molecule made up of repeated simpler units connected by covalent bonds.

Question 14

What are the monomers of proteins?

Answer 14

Amino acids are the monomers of proteins.

Question 15

What are the monomers of nucleic acids?

Answer 15

Nucleotides are the monomers of nucleic acids.

Question 16

What are the monomers of carbohydrates?

Answer 16

Sugars are the monomers of carbohydrates.

Question 17

What are the monomers of lipids?

Answer 17

Fatty acids and glycerol are the monomers of lipids.

Question 18

What is the polymer link for proteins?

Answer 18

Proteins are linked by covalent peptide bonds.

Question 19

What is the polymer link for nucleic acids?

Answer 19

Nucleic acids are linked by phosphodiester bonds.

Question 20

What is the polymer link for carbohydrates?

Answer 20

Carbohydrates are linked by glycosidic bonds.

Question 21

What is the polymer link for lipids?

Answer 21

Lipids are not typically linked in a polymer form.

Question 22

What is a lipid?

Answer 22

A lipid is a hydrocarbon molecule that is soluble in non-polar solvents but not in water.

Question 23

What is the function of lipids?

Answer 23

Lipids make up cell membranes, store energy, and act as signaling molecules.

Question 24

What is fat commonly stored as?

Answer 24

Fat is commonly stored in the form of triglycerides.

Question 25

What is the difference between unsaturated and saturated fats?

Answer 25

Unsaturated fats are bent and liquid at room temperature, while saturated fats are linear and solid at room temperature.

Question 26

What are the functions of proteins?

Answer 26

Proteins function as catalysts, structural components for cell shape and movement.

Question 27

What are amino acids?

Answer 27

Amino acids are molecules that contain a central carbon atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a side chain (R group).

Question 28

What is a zwitterion?

Answer 28

A zwitterion is an ionized amino acid, where the amino group gains a proton and the carboxyl group loses a proton.

Question 29

What is a peptide bond?

Answer 29

A peptide bond is a covalent bond that links the carbon atom in the carboxyl group of one amino acid to the nitrogen atom in the amino group of another amino acid.

Question 30

What type of reaction forms a peptide bond?

Answer 30

A condensation reaction, in which a water molecule is lost.

Question 31

What are nucleic acids?

Answer 31

Nucleic acids are macromolecules that carry genetic information and play a role in protein synthesis.

Question 32

What are the components of a nucleotide?

Answer 32

A nucleotide contains a 5-carbon sugar, a nitrogen-containing base, and a phosphate group.

Question 33

What is the sugar in RNA?

Answer 33

The sugar in RNA is ribose, which has an OH group.

Question 34

What is the sugar in DNA?

Answer 34

The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, which has only a hydrogen atom.

Question 35

What are the bases found in nucleic acids?

Answer 35

The bases are adenine, thymine (replaced by uracil in RNA), cytosine, and guanine.

Question 36

What is a phosphodiester bond?

Answer 36

A phosphodiester bond forms when a phosphate group in one nucleotide is covalently joined to the sugar unit in another nucleotide, releasing a water molecule.

Question 37

What is the structure of DNA?

Answer 37

DNA forms a double helix structure made of two complementary strands of nucleotides coiled around each other.

Question 38

What holds the bases in DNA together?

Answer 38

The bases in DNA are held together by hydrogen bonds.

Question 39

What is the importance of base pairing in DNA?

Answer 39

Base pairing ensures accurate replication of the genetic code during cell division.

Question 40

What is the orientation of DNA strands?

Answer 40

The two strands of DNA are oriented antiparallel, meaning they run in opposite directions.

Question 41

What are complex carbohydrates made of?

Answer 41

Complex carbohydrates are made of linked monosaccharides, such as glucose, galactose, and fructose.

Question 42

What is a disaccharide?

Answer 42

A disaccharide is formed when two monosaccharides are linked together, such as lactose (glucose + galactose).

Question 43

What is hydrolysis?

Answer 43

Hydrolysis is a process in which water is added to break a covalent bond, such as the glycosidic bond in carbohydrates.

Question 44

What are the general functions of macromolecules?

Answer 44

Macromolecules serve various functions, including energy provision, structural support, storing genetic information, and catalyzing reactions.

Question 45

What role do carbohydrates play in cells?

Answer 45

Carbohydrates provide energy and contribute to the structure of cell walls in bacteria, plants, and algae.

Question 46

What role do lipids play in cells?

Answer 46

Lipids make up cell membranes, store energy, and act as signaling molecules.

Question 47

What role do proteins play in cells?

Answer 47

Proteins provide structural support and act as catalysts that facilitate chemical reactions.

Question 48

What role do nucleic acids play in cells?

Answer 48

Nucleic acids encode and transmit genetic information.