Chapter 3 - Carbon & Biomolecules Flashcards by Jordan Herrick

Why is carbon so important?

Can form 4 covalent bonds, tetrahedrally oriented.
Smallest atom that can form 4 covalent bonds so they are short and strong.
Can form single (can rotate) or double (can’t rotate) bonds.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Most biological molecules consists of which atoms?

H, O, N, C, P, S 123452

Important structural atoms.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is graphite?

Carbon forms flat plates. Makes good lubricant - plates slide over each other.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is buckminsterfullerene?

Spherical molecules made out of carbon. Looks like a soccer ball. ‘Buckyballs’

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is graphene?

2 dimensional continuous flat sheet of pure carbon. Recently discovered.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Diamond?

Structure of diamond is like a single molecule of carbon. Bonds are tetrahedral.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is organic chemistry?

Study of organic compounds.
Organic compounds are compounds that contain carbon.
Most organic compounds also contain hydrogen atoms.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is biochemistry?

Chemistry of all living things. Based on molecules with carbon skeletons.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Carbon Dioxide?

CO2 : O=C=O

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Acetylene?

C2H2 : H-C=C-H

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Formaldehyde?

CH2O

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Acetic Acid?

CH3COOH

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Benzene?

C6H6

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Carbon Monoxide?

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are hydrocarbons?

Organic molecules that contain only carbon and hydrogen.

They can release a huge amount of energy by burning or in chemical reactions.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Linear Hydrocarbons

1-4 Carbons = Gases
5-15 Carbons = Liquids
16+ Carbons = Waxes

Double Bond Hydrocarbons

Double bonds can take the place of hydrogen.

What happens when hydrocarbons are burned?

The Carbons and Hydrogens separate and combine with oxygen. This creates CO2 and H2O. Also releases a ton of energy.

Why do hydrocarbons release a lot of energy when burned?

Electrons are shared nearly equally between C & H (electronegativity values).
Electrons in CO2 and H2O are shared very unequally.
To go from equal sharing to unequal sharing of electrons means making new bonds that are stronger.
When valence electrons go from a weaker bond to a stronger bond, energy is released.

Hydroxyl Side Group

R - OH

In alcohols, Sugars etc.
Polar side group.
In many dehydration reactions.

Carboxyl Side Group

R - COOH

In Organic Acids
Acidic Side Group
Links to amino in peptide bonds.

Amino Side Group

R - NHH

In amines
Basic Side Group
Links to carboxyl in peptide bonds.

Sulfhydryl Side Group

R - SH

In thiols
Links to other molecules in proteins and coenzymes.

Phosphate Side Group

R - PO4

Used in energy molecule ATP, in DNA, in cell signaling and control etc.

Methyl Side Group

R - CH3 Common nonpolar side group 'Tag'

Acetyl Side Group

R - COCH3 2-carbon fragment intermediate in breakdown of fats and sugars.

Carbonyl Group

Oxygen double bonded to a carbon. Found in ketones, aldehydes and carboxylic acids.

Glycerol (Draw It)

C3H8O3

What are isomers?

Molecules with the same atoms, but different structures. Different ways of connecting the same atoms together. Different structures lead to different chemical properties. Everything depends on structure!

What are structural isomers?

Same atoms, connected to each other in different ways. Example: 1-butene vs 2-butene Note: Single bonds can swivel but the swiveling doesn't make a new molecule.

What are geometric isomers?

Same atoms, connected to each other in the same way but there are two 'same' ways. Depends on the orientation of the Carbon-Carbon double bonds. Has a 'kink'. Trans/Cis Trans: Away Cis: Same side

What are enantiomers?

Same atoms, connected in the same way but the isomers are mirror images of each other. If a molecule contains a carbon that is bonded to four different things then the molecule has two enantiomers. Some enantiomers have no effect.