U1 Chapter 4: Carbon and Molecular Diversity of Life

Question 1

Organic Chemistry

Answer 1

The study of compounds containing carbon
- organic compounds range from simple molecules, such as (CH4) to colossal ones, such as proteins with thousands of atoms

Question 2

Hydrocarbons

Answer 2

Organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen

Question 3

Isomers

Answer 3

Compounds that have the same number of atoms of the same elements but different structures and hence different properties

Question 4

Structural Isomers

Answer 4

Differ in the covalent arrangement of their atoms
- cis-trans isomers (geometric isomers): carbons have covalent bonds to the same atoms, but these atoms differ in their spatial arrangements due to the inflexibility of double bonds

Question 5

Enantiomers

Answer 5

Isomers that are mirror images of each other and that differ in shape due to the presence of asymmetric carbon, one that is attached to four different atoms or groups of atoms

Question 6

Functional Groups

Answer 6

Chemical groups that are directly involved in chemical reactions
- each has certain properties, such as shape and charge that cause it to participate in chemical reactions in a characteristic way

Question 7

Phosphate Group

Answer 7

Organic phosphate, ex. adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is related to how the cell stores energy/storing the potential to react with water or other molecules