chapter 4- carbon and molecular diversity Flashcards
is the carbon skeleton functional
no it is inert, simply a backbone
what is vitalism
belief in a life force outside of physical and chemical laws
what is mechanism
belief that physical and chemical laws controls all natural phenomena
what is the molecular formula of methane
CH4
what is the molecular formula of ethane
C2H6
what is the molecular formula of ethene/ethylene
C2H4
what makes the C O H N elements good to be the building code of living molecules
their valence electrons
carbon: the fact that its not too electronegative (wont keep electrons for itself)
what can vary in the carbon skeleton
length
branching vs not branching
presence of rings
position of double bonds
what are hydrocarbons
molecules made of carbon and hydrogens only
what can hydrocarbons do
can undergo reactions that release a large amount of energy
what are adipose cells
cells that store fat droplets (triglyceride) in vacuole
what are isomers
compounds that have the same molecular formula but different properties and structures
what are structural isomers
atoms are bonded at different places
what are geometric isomers
have the same bonds but different spacial arrangement
cis-trans arrangement
what does cis arrangement mean
the atoms are on the same side of the double bond
what does trans arrangement mean
the atoms are on opposite sides of the double bond
what are enantiomers
molecules that are mirror images of eachother
enantiomer characteristics
may have different effects in body
usually only one is biologically active
how to differentiate between R and S enantiomers
thumb of left (S) and right (R) hand points to lowest priority atom (usually H)
why do two enantiomers affect the body differently
the body has receptors that are specific to molecules and the enantiomers wont bind to the same receptors (body can differentiate between isomers)
what do the properties of organic molecules depend on
carbon skeleton
molecular groups attached to it
what are functional groups
components of organic molecules involved in chemical reactions
characteristics of hydroxyl group (3)
in alcohols, carbs and sugars
polar (allows for hydration shell)
OH
how do we determine the solubility of a molecule that is a long chain of carbons and a hydroxyl group
solubility decreases as the carbon chain increases
