Semester 1 Final: Carbon

Question 1

Carbon’s Skeleton

Answer 1

The diversity seen in molecules is due to carbon’s skeleton variations (Length, Branching, Double bonds, Rings) and ability to covalently bond with four other atoms because of 4 valence electrons

Question 2

Carbon’s Skeleton - Hydrocarbons

Answer 2

– Molecules consisting of only carbon & hydrogen
– Not found often in cells, but rather are organic molecules have regions that are hydrocarbons
– Ex: hydrocarbon tails found in fats

Question 3

Carbon’s Skeleton - Isomers

Answer 3

– Molecules with the same molecular formula but different structures and properties
• Structural
• Geometric
– Cis
– Trans
• Enantiomers

Question 4

Carbon Skeleton - length

Answer 4

increases the number of carbons in a linear fashion

Question 5

Carbon Skeleton - branching

Answer 5

formation of side chain through removal of hydrogen and attachment of carbon

Question 6

Carbon Skeleton - double bonds

Answer 6

makes planar structure instead of tetrahedron

Question 7

Carbon Skeleton - rings

Answer 7

first and last carbon attach to each other

Question 8

significance of carbon in biological molecules

Answer 8

• all organic compounds contain carbon

- electron configuration of carbon gives it covalent compatibility with many different elements

Question 9

Structural Isomers

Answer 9

change location of covalent bonds to create new molecules

Question 10

geometric isomers

Answer 10

same covalent partnerships, but differ in spatial arrangements
cis - special group on the same side
trans - special group on opposite sides

Question 11

Enantiomers

Answer 11

differ in spatial arrangement around an asymmetric carbon, resulting in molecules that are mirror images