Carbon%20and%20the%20Molecular%20Diversity%20of%20Life

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Chapter 4

• Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

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Carbon Chemistry

• Carbon is the Backbone of Biological Molecules
  (macromolecules)
• All living organisms Are made up of chemicals
  based mostly on the element carbon

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Carbon Chemistry

• Organic chemistry is the study of carbon
  compounds
• Carbon atoms can form diverse molecules by
  bonding to four other atoms
• Carbon compounds range from simple molecules to
  complex ones
• Carbon has four valence electrons and may form
  single, double, triple, or quadruple bonds

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• The bonding versatility of carbon allows it to
  form many diverse molecules, including carbon
  skeletons

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

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• Carbon may bond to itself forming carbon chains
• Carbon chains form the skeletons of most organic
  molecules
• Carbon chains vary in length and shape

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Hydrocarbons

• Hydrocarbons are molecules consisting of only
  carbon and hydrogen
• Hydrocarbons Are found in many of a cells
  organic molecules

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Isomers

• Isomers are molecules with the same molecular
  formula but different structures and properties
• Three types of isomers are
• Structural
• Geometric
• Enantiomers

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• Enantiomers Are important in the pharmaceutical
  industry

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Functional Groups

• Functional groups are the parts of molecules
  involved in chemical reactions
• They Are the chemically reactive groups of atoms
  within an organic molecule
• Give organic molecules distinctive chemical
  properties

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• Six functional groups are important in the
  chemistry of life
• Hydroxyl
• Carbonyl
• Carboxyl
• Amino
• Sulfhydryl
• Phosphate

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• Some important functional groups of organic
  compounds

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Some important functional groups of organic
compounds
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• Some important functional groups of organic
  compounds