lecture 1: carbon

Question 1

Two fundamental requirements in organisms (requirements for life)

Answer 1

1. Energy

2. Carbon

Question 2

What (3) else do organisms require for the proper functioning of their cells?

Answer 2

Water, minerals, vitamins

Question 3

What is the backbone of life?

Answer 3

carbon

Question 4

What carbon-based (organic) molecules distinguish living matter from non-living matter? (4)

Answer 4

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

Question 5

What 4 elements make up >95% of all matter found in organisms?

Answer 5

H, O, N, and C

Question 6

What (3) make carbon the best (and versatile) building block, forming almost limitless array of strong molecular skeletons that work in extreme and moderate environments?

Answer 6

1. 4 covalent bonds
2. Double bonds
3. C-C bonds are strong

Question 7

What are organic molecules and what bonds (2) do they contain?

Answer 7

Term first used to describe molecules found in organisms

Also called carbon-based molecules

Include C-H and C-C covalent bonds

Question 8

What is vitalism (2)?

Answer 8

Idea that:

1. principle of physics and chemistry observed in lab did not apply in the production of organic molecules in organisms —> could not make organic molecules in lab
2. organic molecules are created by a vital force within an organism —> “magic”

Question 9

Death to vitalism?

Answer 9

1828: Wöhler synthesized urea in a lab without use of kidneys —> shows that organic substances do follow principles of physics and chemistry just like in a lab

Question 10

Diversity in carbon skeletons (4)

Answer 10

1. Length
2. Double bond position
3. Branching
4. Presence of rings

Question 11

What are functional groups and what atoms (5) do they contain?

Answer 11

• Groups that are bonded to a carbon atom of the carbon skeleton in an organic molecule
• H, N, O, P, S

Question 12

In an organic molecule, the carbon skeleton gives the molecule…

Answer 12

its overall shape

Question 13

Functional groups determine the _________ of a molecule (2 sub aspects)

Answer 13

chemical behaviors

1. chemical reactivity (chemical reactions change structure)
2. interactions with other molecules (no change in structure)

Question 14

The chemical behaviour of a molecule determines its….

Answer 14

biological properties

Question 15

What gives each organic molecule its unique chemical properties and unique biological properties? (2)

Answer 15

1. Number of functional groups

2. Arrangement of functional groups

Question 16

Structural diversity in biomolecules leads to…

Answer 16

functional diversity (structure fits function!)

Question 17

Structural diversity in biomolecules stems from diversity in… (2)

Answer 17

1. carbon skeletons

2. functional groups

Question 18

What are isomers?

Answer 18

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures and properties

Question 19

What are structural isomers?

Answer 19

Have different covalent arrangements of their atoms which lead to different chemical properties

Question 20

What are steroisomers?

Answer 20

Have identical bonding relationships, but the spatial positioning of the atoms differs (in 3D-space)
- Can have similar chemical properties but different biological properties

Question 21

Can stereoisomers have different biological properties?

Answer 21

Yes, bc of different structure

Question 22

Polar vs Non-polar bonds + examples

Answer 22

• Polar: unequal sharing of electrons bc of electronegativity difference between atoms —> C-O, H-O
• Non-polar: equal sharing of electrons, no big electronegativity difference —> C-H, H-H

Question 23

Proportion of polar/nonpolar bonds in

biomolecules affect… (3)

Answer 23

1. Solubility in water
2. Ability to form hydrogen bonds with other chemical groups
3. Chemical energy when used as a fuel in energy metabolism

Question 24

What type of reaction makes polymers? Breaks them down? (2 + defintion)

Answer 24

• Dehydration synthesis (condensation) reaction: remove water, monomer in
• Hydrolysis reaction: add water, monomer out

Question 25

Why do organisms need organic molecules? (3 + examples)

Answer 25

1. Storage:
   - excess glucose (from starch, plant) is stored as glycogen in liver + muscle
   - excess fatty acids (from fats) are used to build fats and stored in adipose tissue
2. Building:
   - amino acids (from proteins) are transported into all cells where they are used to build porteins
   - organic molecules used to make other organic molecules
3. Energy use:
   - portion of absorbed (from digestion then absorbed into blood) glucose and fatty acids are used to supply energy needs for cells