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Carbon and Molecular Diversity of Life

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Terms in this set (23)

  • What is organic chemistry?

    Organic chemistry is the study of carbon-containing compounds, which form the foundation of biological molecules.

  • What did Miller's Experiment demonstrate?

    Miller's Experiment showed that organic compounds could be synthesized abiotically from inorganic precursors, supporting the idea that life's building blocks could form under early Earth conditions.

  • Why is carbon considered versatile in bonding?

    Carbon can form stable covalent bonds with many elements including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other carbon atoms, allowing diverse molecular structures.

  • Name examples of carbon-based biological molecules.

    Examples include fructose and glucose (sugars), estradiol and testosterone (steroids), carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

  • How many covalent bonds can carbon form and why?

    Carbon has four valence electrons, allowing it to form up to four covalent bonds with other atoms, creating chains, rings, and branched structures called carbon skeletons.

  • What are hydrocarbons?

    Hydrocarbons are molecules consisting entirely of carbon and hydrogen; they are nonpolar and hydrophobic.

  • What are isomers?

    Isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures, resulting in different properties.

  • What are structural isomers?

    Structural isomers differ in the covalent arrangements of their atoms.

  • What are cis-trans isomers (geometric isomers)?

    Cis-trans isomers differ in spatial arrangement around a double bond.

  • What are enantiomers?

    Enantiomers are mirror images of each other due to the presence of an asymmetric (chiral) carbon atom.

  • What are functional groups?

    Functional groups are groups of atoms that participate in chemical reactions and influence molecular function.

  • What is the role of the hydroxyl group (-OH)?

    Hydroxyl groups are found in alcohols and increase solubility in water.

  • What is the carbonyl group (>CO) found in?

    Carbonyl groups are found in aldehydes and ketones.

  • What is the function of the carboxyl group (-COOH)?

    Carboxyl groups act as acids and are found in amino acids and fatty acids.

  • What is the role of the amino group (-NH2)?

    Amino groups act as bases and are found in amino acids.

  • What does the sulfhydryl group (-SH) do?

    Sulfhydryl groups are found in some amino acids and form disulfide bonds in proteins.

  • What is the phosphate group (-OPO3²⁻) involved in?

    Phosphate groups are involved in energy transfer, such as in ATP.

  • What is the function of the methyl group (-CH3)?

    Methyl groups affect gene expression and molecular recognition.

  • How do steroids like estradiol and testosterone differ?

    Steroids share a common carbon skeleton but differ in functional groups attached, leading to distinct biological activities.

  • What is ATP and its role in cells?

    ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is the primary energy carrier in cells; hydrolysis releases energy for cellular processes.

  • Write the ATP hydrolysis reaction.

    ATP + H\(2\)O → ADP + P\(i\) + energy

  • Give examples of processes powered by ATP hydrolysis.

    ATP hydrolysis powers muscle contraction, active transport, and biosynthesis.

  • Why is isomerism important in biochemistry?

    Isomerism is key because different isomers can have drastically different biological effects, such as L- and D-amino acids.