Carbon & Polymers

Review...1. Why does the carbon atom model have 4

holes?2. What is so special about carbon?

Carbon● Living organisms are made up mostly of carbon, nitrogen,

oxygen and hydrogen. These elements make up 96.3% of human body weight!

● Ability to form strong and stable covalent bonds (can form 4)● Can bond to oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur● Can form very long chains (single, double, triple bond)● Can form rings● There are two main kinds of chemical compounds: Organic

and inorganic

Inorganic V.S. Organic Compounds

Inorganic Compounds Organic Compounds

Do not contain carbon (except: carbon dioxide)

Contain carbon!

Living things can contain many inorganic compounds

Caron is very unique: can form 4 single bonds, can make very long chains and rings

Examples: Water (H2O) and ammonia (NH3)

Example: Protein, nucleic acids, saccharides (sugars)...

Butane

Carbon forms rings, too..● -Benzene ring (Clear,

flammable liquid. Used to beused as an industrial solvent

● What other rings?

How are these chains & Rings formed?

● Polymerization - process by which large compounds are made from small compounds

● Polymer: Larger compound formed by small units called monomers

● Monomer: Smaller compounds that join to form polymers

How are polymers formed?● Polymers are formed through dehydration

reactions (removing water)● Polymers are broken through hydration

reactions (adding water)

Dehydration Synthesis