Molecules Flashcards
what is organic chemistry
Organic Chemistry includes carbon containing molecules. they are essential to life. The properties of a carbon-containing molecules depend on the arrangement of its carbon skeleton and on its chemical groups.
why is carbon important for life, and how do different organisms get it
Carbon is the backbone of life
→ all molecules of living organisms are composed of carbon
→ carbon enters living organisms via the process of photosynthesis, the it is passed from plant to animal, then animal to animal, all through consumption.
what kinds of molecules are organic
Organic chemistry contains molecules of carbon and hydrogen, things like $CO_2$ are inorganic.
how did organic chemistry start
in 1953 Stanley Miller showed that an early atmosphere containing $H_2O, CH_4,NH_3,H_2$ when exposed to electricity then condensed could produce organic molecules that would fall in the rain.
So organic molecules could be abiotically synthesized on early earth.
what are the important atoms in organic chemistry, and how many bonds can they form
Carbon has four valence electrons, and so can form 4 different bonds with other atoms, including other carbon atoms.
Other important atoms include:
Hydrogen, which can form 1 bond (valence = 1)
Oxygen, which can form 2 bond (valence = 2)
Nitrogen which can form 3 bonds (valence = 3)
what is important for the function of a molecule
Molecules have three dimensional shape, which is very important for the function of the molecule.
What are hydrocarbons
Since carbon can bond to other carbons, they can link in chains of infinite variety.
Hydrocarbons are formed from chains of carbon with the empty bonds filled with hydrogen.
They can vary in:
- Length
- Branching
- Presence and Position of Double/Triple bonds
- Presence of rings
what are isomers
Isomers are molecules with the same number of each atom, but different structure. There are three types:
what are structural isomers
Structural Isomers: have the same formula, but are otherwise different
what are geometric isomers
Cis-trans (geometric) isomers: Alkenes can either be cis or trans depending on if their chain continues on the same (cis) side or opposite (trans) side
what are Enantiomers
- Enantiomers: non super imposable mirror images. exist when a carbon atom is bonded to 4 different groups/atoms.Enantiomers are important for pharmaceuticals, a mix up of enantiomers can lead to adverse affects, like leading to still births instead of preventing morning sickness.
What is the Hydroxyl group
-OH, found in Alcohols
What is the Carbonyl group
-C=O -R, in ketons (R=R) or aldehydes (R=H)
What is the carboxyl group
-C=O -OH, found in carboxylic acid
What is the Amino group
-NH2, found in Amines
What is the Sulfhyryl group
-SH, found in Thiols
What are Phosphate groups
-PO4, in organic phosphates
what is the methyl group
-CH3, found in Methylated compounds
What is ATP
Adenosine triophosphate
What is ADP
Adenosine Diphosphate
What is the ATP reaction
PO4-PO4-PO4-Adenosine -> PO4-PO4-Adenosine + PO4 + Energy
what are the building blocks of life
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Carbohydrates
- Nucleic Acids
what are lipids
3 groups: no polymers/macromolecules
- fats
- phospholipids
- steroids
All hydrophobic
what are fats
Glycerol + 3 fatty acids,
linked by ester linkages: -OH + HO- —> —O— + H2O
Used for energy storage mainly:
Plants use polysaccharides (a starch), but animals use fat