Carbon and Molecular Diversity

Organic Molecules

• What is an organic molecule?

• Molecule that contains carbon

• What are the major elements of life?

• C, H, N, O, P, and S

The Carbon Atom

What makes the carbon atom so important to life?

• The electron configuration of carbon makes it tetravalent.

The carbon atom has 4 valence electrons!

This explains how carbon makes large complex molecules possible.

Carbon’s Compatibility

• Carbon frequently combines with O, H, and N.• Learn the valence numbers for all 4 of these atoms!

Variations in Carbon Skeletons

How can variations in carbon skeletons affect the structure and function of organic molecules?

• Change the length of the carbon skeleton.

• Alter the number and location of double bonds.

• Change the elements with which carbon bonds.

Hydrocarbons

What is a hydrocarbon chain?

• It is a long C-H chain

What type of bond is the C-H bond?

• Non-polar covalent

Examples of hydrocarbons:• fossil fuel component

• framework for large organic macromolecules of life

IsomersWhat is an isomer?

• Molecules that have the same molecular formula but different structures.

vary in spatial arrangem ent

geom etric isom ers

vary in covalent arrangem ent

structural isom ers

vary in spatial arrangem entaround asym etric carbon

sterioisom ers or entantiom ers

Isom ers

Functional Groups

• Have specific chemical and physical properties

• Are regions of organic molecules

• Behave consistently from one organic molecule to another

• Affect the structure and function of organic molecules to which they belong.

A. Hydroxyl Group

What does it look like?• C-OH

• Alcohols

• Polar and water soluble

B. Carbonyl Group

What does it look like?• C=O

• At the end of a molecule - called aldehyde

• Within a molecule - called ketone

• Polar and water soluble

Carboxyl Group

What does this group look like? How did it get its name?

• COOH - This group consists of a carbon atom that is bonded to both a carbonyl and a hydroxyl group.

Why is this group acidic?

• It donates H+

• Compounds with this group are called carboxylic acids

D. Amino Group

What does this group look like?

Either C-NH2 or C-NH3

• Called amines

What causes this group to be considered a weak base?

• The C-NH2 tends to gain H+, removing them from the solution.

E. Sulfhydryl GroupWhat does this group look like?

• C-SH

What is a function of this group?

• Helps stabilize protein structure through disulfide bridges

F. The Phosphate Group

What does this group look like?

• PO42-

What are some characteristics of this group?

• Acidic, loses H+

• Polar, water soluble

• Unstable! Therefore important for energy transfer and storage.

Polymers

• What is a polymer?

• Poly = many; mer = part. A polymer is a large molecule consisting of many smaller subunits bonded together.

• What is a monomer?

• A monomer is a subunit of a polymer.

Making and Breaking of Polymers

• How are covalent linkages between monomers formed in the creation of organic polymers?

• Condensation or dehydration synthesis reactions.

• Monomers are covalently linked to one another through the removal of water.

Dehydration Synthesis(aka Condensation)

Hydrolysis

• What is a hydrolysis reaction?

• Polymers are broken down into monomers.

• Hydro = water; lysis = loosening/

• Water is added and the lysis of the polymer occurs.

Hydrolysis