Chapter 4: Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

Question 1

Functional Group

Answer 1

a group of atoms responsible for the characteristic reactions of a particular compound.

The functional group gives the molecule its properties, regardless of what molecule contains it

they are centers of chemical reactivity.

they replace H in the (hydro)carbon skeleton

Question 2

Isomers

Answer 2

compounds that have the same numbers of atoms of the same elements but different structures and hence different properties.

Question 3

Structural isomer

Answer 3

has same numbers of atoms of the same elements but different COVALENT BOND ARRANGEMENTS

Question 4

Cis-trans isomers

Answer 4

aka geometric isomers

compounds with covalent bonds to the same atoms but different spatial arrangements d/t inflexible double bonds (which can’t rotate on their axes the way single bonds can)

each one has a cis version (atoms in question are on the same side of the double bond) and a trans version (atoms in question are on opposite sides of the double bond)

Question 5

Enantiomers (isomers)

Answer 5

compounds that are mirror images of one another save the presence of an asymmetric carbon (R left handed S right handed)

Question 6

Asymmetric Carbon

Answer 6

an asymmetric carbon has 4 different atoms/groups attached to it