Organic Molecules in Biology Flashcards
Organic chemistry is the study
carbon compounds
Different individuals in a species are distinguished by variations in the types of
organic molecules they make
6 Major elements of life
- Carbon
- Hydrogen
- Oxygen
- Nitrogen
- Sulfur
Phosphorus
carbon can make ___ bonds
four
carbon usually forms ___ or ___ covalent bonds
single or double
Shape of a molecule is central to its
function
Single covalent bonds form a
tetrahedron
Double bond
The carbons are on the same plane as are the atoms
Valence
Number of covalent bonds that can form
what are valence electrons based on
Number of unpaired electrons in the valence shell
four main atoms in organic molecules
a. Oxygen
b. Nitrogen
Hydrogen
carbon
Carbon chains form the skeletons of
most organic molecules
variations of carbon chains can be found in the
- chain length
- branches
- double bond position
- presence of rings
Hydrocarbons
- Organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen
Isomers
Variations in the architecture of organic molecules
isomers have the same __________ but different ________
number of atoms of elements and structures
Isomers of organic molecules have
different functions
Structural isomers
- Differ in the covalent arrangements of their atom
Cis-trans isomers
Carbons have covalent bonds to the same atom but differ in their position
cis isomer
on the same side
trans isomer
opposite sites
Single bonds allow for the atoms to
freely about the bond axis without changing the compound
Enantiomers
Isomers that are mirror images of each other
how many enantiomer isomers are biologically active
only one
why is only one enantiomer isomer is biologically active
only one form can bind to a specific molecules in an organism
Functional groups
Each has certain properties that cause it to participate in reactions in a normal (characteristic) way
7 most important functional groups
- Hydroxyl
- Carbonyl
- Amino
- Sulfhydryl
- Phosphate
- Methyl
Methyl serves as a
recognizable tag on biological molecules
ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
A more complicated organic phosphate
ATP importance in cells
It is thought as storing the potential to react with water and Releases energy that can be used by the cell
how is ADP formed
One phosphate group of ATP can split off as a result of a reaction with water
Hydroxyl group
Ketone (Carbonyl Group)
Aldehyde (Carbonyl Group)
carboxyl group
Amino Group
Sulfhydryl group
Phosphate group
Methyl Group
why is a hydroxyl group polar
electronegative oxygen
hydroxyl compound name
alcohol
sugars with ketone
ketoses
sugars with aldehydes
aldoses
ketones have a carbonyl group
somewhere in the middle of the chain
Aldehydes have a carbonyl group
at the end of the chain
carboxyl groups act as an
acid
why does a carboxyl group act as an acid
donates H+ ion because
carboxyl compound name
carboxylic acid
amino group acts as a
base
why does the amino group act as a base
can pick up H+ from the solution
amino group compound name
amine
what does a crosslink of two SH group cause
more stabilization of the protein structure
Sulfhydryl group compound name
thiol
phosphate group contributes
negative charges
when does a phosphate group have a -1 charge
inside the chain
when does a phosphate group have a -2 charge
at the end of the chain
phosphate group compound name
organic phosphate
methyl group affects the
expression of genes when on DNA or proteins bound on DNA
methyl group also affects the shape and function of
male and female sex hormones
methyl group compound name
methylated compound
