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General Biology: Carbon and Organic Molecules

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  • What determines acidity in water?
    The amount of H⁺ (hydronium ions) determines acidity, measured by the pH scale.
  • What role do buffers play in biological systems?
    Buffers help prevent big changes in pH by accepting or donating H⁺, maintaining stable cellular pH.
  • Why is carbon essential for life?
    Carbon can form 4 covalent bonds, allowing it to build a huge variety of simple and complex molecules essential for life.
  • What is organic chemistry?
    The study of compounds that contain carbon.
  • Name the 'Big 6' major elements in biological molecules.
    Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.
  • How many bonds can carbon form and why?
    Carbon has 4 valence electrons and can form 4 covalent bonds to complete its outer shell.
  • What shape do carbon's four covalent bonds form?
    A tetrahedral shape, with bonds spreading out in 3D around the carbon atom.
  • What are carbon skeletons?
    Chains of carbon atoms that form the backbone of organic molecules, varying in length, shape, branching, double bonds, and rings.
  • What are hydrocarbons?
    Molecules made only of carbon and hydrogen, often linear chains that store chemical energy.
  • Define isomers.
    Molecules with the same molecular formula but different structures or properties.
  • What are structural isomers?
    Isomers with the same atoms but different covalent bond arrangements.
  • What are cis-trans isomers?
    Isomers with the same covalent bonds but different spatial arrangements of atoms.
  • What are enantiomers?
    Molecules that are mirror images of each other, like right and left hands.
  • Why do small differences in isomer structure matter biologically?
    Because molecular shape affects function, different isomers can have very different biological effects.
  • How can carbon structures be distinguished?
    By their carbon skeleton and the attached chemical groups.
  • What are functional groups?
    Parts of organic molecules that participate in chemical reactions and give molecules specific properties.
  • List the seven important functional groups in biology (CASHCMP).
    Carbonyl, Amino, Sulfhydryl, Hydroxyl, Carboxyl, Methyl, Phosphate.
  • What is ATP and why is it important?
    Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) stores and releases chemical energy for cellular processes.
  • How does ATP store energy?
    Energy is stored in the high-energy phosphate bonds, especially due to repulsion between negatively charged phosphate groups.
  • What happens when ATP reacts with water?
    ATP releases energy that cells can use by breaking a phosphate bond.
  • Why is carbon considered the fundamental element of life?
    Because it can form 4 covalent bonds, enabling the formation of countless organic molecules essential for life.