Chapter 4-Lecture Flashcards
_________________: The Backbone of Life
Carbon
Living organisms consist mostly of ___________________
carbon-based compounds
Carbon is unparalleled in its ability to form
large, complex, and varied molecules
Proteins, DNA, carbohydrates, and other molecules that distinguish living matter are _______________________
all composed of carbon compounds
__________________: is the study of compounds that contain carbon
Organic chemistry
Organic compounds range from __________________________________________
simple molecules to colossal ones
Most organic compounds contain _____________________________________
hydrogen atoms in addition to carbon atoms (hydrocarbons)
_________________ was the belief in a life force outside the jurisdiction of physical and chemical laws
Vitalism
It was thought that organic compounds could _______________________________________
only be produced in living organisms
Vitalism was disproved when chemists were able to
synthesize organic compounds
Organic Molecules and the Origin of Life on Earth
♣ Stanley Miller’s classic experiment demonstrated the abiotic synthesis of organic compounds
♣ Experiments support the idea that abiotic synthesis of organic compounds, perhaps near volcanoes, could have been a stage in the origin of life
___________________ is the view that physical and chemical laws govern all natural phenomena
Mechanism
Carbon atoms can form diverse molecules by
bonding to four other atoms
Electron configuration is the key to an atom’s characteristics such as
Electron configuration determines the kinds and number of bonds an atom will form with other atom
With four valence electrons, carbon can form four covalent bonds with a variety of atoms
This ability makes large, complex molecules possible
In molecules with multiple carbons, each carbon bonded to four other atoms has a
tetrahedral shape
However, when two carbon atoms are joined by a double bond, the atoms joined to the carbons are
in the same plane as the carbons
The electron configuration of carbon gives it
covalent compatibility with many different elements
The valences of carbon and its most frequent partners ________________________________________
are the building code for the architecture of
living molecule
(hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen)
Carbon chains form the skeletons of most organic molecules
Carbon chains vary in length and shape
_____________: are organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen
Hydrocarbons
Many organic molecules, such as fats, have hydrocarbon components
Hydrocarbons can undergo reactions that release a large amount of energy
_______________: are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures and properties
Isomers
______________: have different covalent arrangements of their atoms
structural isomers
_________________: have the same covalent bonds but differ in spatial arrangements
Cis Trans Isomers
__________________: are isomers that are mirror imagesof each other
Enantiomers
♣ Enantiomers are important in the pharmaceutical industry
♣ Two enantiomers of a drug may have different effects
♣ Usually only one isomer is biologically active
♣ Differing effects of enantiomers demonstrate that organisms are sensitive to even subtle variations
in molecules
♣ Distinctive properties of organic molecules depend on __________________________________
the carbon skeleton and on the chemical groups attached to it
A number of ________________ can replace
_______________ attached to skeletons of organic molecules
characteristic groups
the hydrogens
♣ Estradiol and testosterone are both steroids with
a common carbon skeleton, in the form of four fused rings
♣ These sex hormones differ only in the chemical groups attached to the rings of the carbon skeleton
___________________ are the components of organic molecules that are most commonly involved in chemical reactions
Functional groups
The number and arrangement of __________________________ give each molecule its unique properties
functional groups
♣ The seven functional groups that are most important in the chemistry of life
♣ Hydroxyl group ♣ Carbonyl group ♣ Carboxyl group ♣ Amino group ♣ Sulfhydryl group ♣ Phosphate group ♣ Methyl group
___________________ An Important Source of Energy for Cellular Processes. An important organic phosphate is _________________________________
ATP: adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
ATP consists of an organic molecule called
adenosine attached to a string of three phosphate groups
ATP stores the potential to react with water,
a reaction that releases energy to be used by
the cell
♣ The versatility of carbon makes possible the great diversity of organic molecules
♣ Variation at the molecular level lies at the foundation of all biological diversity
