Chapter 4 Flashcards
Describe Stanley Miller’s experiment.
In 1953 he simulated what was thought to be environmental conditions on the lifeless primordial earth. He used electrical charges to simulate lightening to trigger reactions in a primitive Atmosphere of H2O,H2, NH3 (ammonia) and H4 (methane). Some of the gases released by volcanos. Organic compounds that play a key role in life were synthesized.
What are isomers?
Variation in the structure of organic molecules. Compounds that have the same number of atoms of the same elements but different structures and hence different properties.
Distinguish among structural isomers, geometric isomers and enantiomers.
structural isomers-differ in the covalent arrangement of their atoms. May also differ in the location of their double bonds.
geometric isomers-have the same covalent partnerships but they differ in their spatial arrangements. Arise from the inflexibility of double bonds that will not allow the atoms to rotate freely about the bond axis.
Enantiomers-Molecules that are mirror images of each other. Important in Pharmaceutical industry because the two enantiomers of a drug may not be equally effective.
What is an asymmetric carbon?
In an Enantiomer it is the carbon about which the atoms can be arranged in two different but mirror image ways.
