chapter 4

Question 1

What is an organic compound?

Answer 1

compounds that contain carbon

Question 2

Hydroxyl group

Answer 2

(OH); alcohols; is polar; Can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.

Question 3

Carbonyl group

Answer 3

(CO); sugars; Ketones if the carbonyl group is within a carbon skeleton; Aldehydes if the carbonyl group is at the end of the carbon skeleton.

Question 4

Carboxyl group

Answer 4

(COOH); organic acids; Acts as an acid; can donate an H+ because the covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen is polar

Question 5

Amino group

Answer 5

(NH2); amines; Acts as a base; can pick up an H+ from the surrounding solution

Question 6

Sulfhydryl group

Answer 6

(SH); thiols; two sulfhydryl groups can react, forming a covalent bond. This helps stabilize protein structure

Question 7

Phosphate group

Answer 7

(PO4); organic phosphates; contributes negative charge to the molecule of which it is a part; Molecules containing phosphate groups have the potential to react with water, releasing energy.

Question 8

Methyl group

Answer 8

(CH3); methylated compounds; Addition of a methyl group to DNA, or to molecules bound to DNA, affects the expression of genes. A methyl group turns a gene on and off by binding to DNA and inhibiting gene expression.