Chapter 4 Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

Question 1

adenosine triphosphate

Answer 1

See ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Question 2

cis-trans isomer

Answer 2

One of several compounds that have the same molecular formula and covalent bonds between atoms but differ in the spatial arrangements of their atoms owing to the inflexibility of double bonds; formerly called a geometric isomer.

Question 3

enantiomer

Answer 3

One of two compounds that are mirror images of each other and that differ in shape due to the presence of an asymmetric carbon.

Question 4

functional group

Answer 4

A specific configuration of atoms commonly attached to the carbon skeletons of organic molecules and involved in chemical reactions.

Question 5

hydrocarbon

Answer 5

An organic molecule consisting only of carbon and hydrogen.

Question 6

Isomer

Answer 6

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

Question 7

organic chemistry

Answer 7

The study of carbon compounds (organic compounds).

Question 8

structural isomer

Answer 8

One of two or more compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in the covalent arrangements of their atoms.

Question 9

valence

Answer 9

The bonding capacity of a given atom; the number of covalent bonds that an atom can form, which usually equals the number of unpaired electrons in its outermost (valence) shell.