Chapter 3: The Chemical Building Blocks of Life Flashcards
What are the four types of organic molecules?
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
How many atoms can carbon bond to? What kinds of bonds can it form?
4, single, double, triple, quadruple
How many valence electrons does carbon have?
4
What is the backbone of biological molecules?
carbon
Hydrocarbons
molecules consisting of ONLY carbon and hydrogen
Where are many hydrocarbons found?
in many of a cell’s organic molecules
Isomers
molecules with the same molecular formula but different structures and properties
What are the three types of isomers?
- structural
- geometric
- enantiomers
Structural isomers
- isomers with differences in actual structure of their carbon skeletons
- ex) glucose and fructose
Geometric (stereoisomers) isomers
have same carbon skeleton, but differ in how the groups are attached to the skeleton
Enantiomers
- mirror images of each other
- important in pharmaceutical industry
What are functional groups and their purpose?
- parts of molecule involved in chemical reactions
- chemically reactive groups of atoms within an organic molecule
- give organic molecules distinct chemical properties
What are the 6 functional groups important to life?
- hydroxyl
- carbonyl
- carboxyl
- amino
- sulfhydryl
- phosphate
Hydroxyl group
hydrogen atom bonded to oxygen atom; this is bonded to the carbon skeleton
Carbonyl group
carbon atom double bonded to oxygen atom
Carboxyl group
oxygen atom is double bonded to a carbon atom, which is also bonded to a hydroxyl group (COOH)
Amino group
nitrogen bonded to two hydrogen atoms and to the carbon skeleton
Sulfhydryl group
sulfur atom bonded to hydrogen atom
Phosphate group
phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms; one oxygen bonded to carbon skeleton
Ketones
carbonyl group is within carbon skeleton
Aldehydes
carbonyl group at the end of the carbon skeleton
What type of bonds are the subunits of macromolecules joined by?
covalent bonds
Dehydration Synthesis
- one molecule of water (H2O) is removed as subunits are linked with a bond
- water is produced
- anabolic (build up)
- requires input of energy
- enzymes carry out the breaking of bonds
Hydrolysis
- molecule can be broken down into subunits as water is added
- water is needed
- catabolic
- energy released
- enzymes needed