Chapter 4: Carbon

Carbon Basics

Organic: Carbon-containing

Inorganic molecule examples?

Carbon atom: 6 protons, 6 electrons, 6 neutrons

4 electrons in valence shell (used for bonding)

Carbon Basics

Carbon has versatile bonding: rings, branches, chains (nonpolar!)

Bonds to itself more than any other element

Carbon Basics

Hydrocarbon chains are a fuel source

Release LOTS of energy as bonds are broken

Functional Groups

Chemical groups that affect molecular function as directly related to chemical reactions

Attached to organic molecules

Structures Fits Function

Molecules have characteristic size and shape that determine function

Ex: molecules with two atoms = linear

molecules with more than two atoms = complex

Shapes determines how biological molecules recognize and response to each other

Complementary molecules bind with weak bonds

Ex. endorphins vs. morphine

Morphine: Molecular Mimic

Isomers

Compounds have same number of atoms of same elements but different structures

Different structures = different properties

Enantiomer: Molecules are mirror images each other

Examples of Enantiomer

Thalidomide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrTHfBCduRA

Children of Thalidomide

Dr. Francis Oldham Kelsey

Functional Group Flashcards

pgs. 64-65

Chemical Group

Name

Structure

Basic function