Chapter 4-Carbon & Diversity of Life

Why carbon makes life diverse

Types of Isomers

Functional Groups and Characteristics

Carbon and Diversity

Carbon has four bonding sites This allows for large and complex molecules to be

made with this element They may form flat or tetrahedral molecules and

may also form rings, chains or branched molecules Carbon may also bond with itself as well as other

common elements like Nitrogen, Hydrogen, and Oxygen

These possibilities make a wide variety of organic molecules possible

Types of Isomers

An isomer is a molecule that has the same molecular formula as another molecule but a different structure and thus different properties.

There are a few different types of isomers: Structural Geometric Enantiomers (Chiral carbons)

Structural Isomers

Differ from one another in location of double bonds and arrangement of atoms

Examples are butane and isobutane (see page 56 )

Geometric Isomers

Same covalent bonds but differ in arrangement in space (spatial)

Example is rhodopsin Rhodopsin changes from one geometric

isomer to another to allow sight in darker places (Rods in your retina) and return to vision in bright light

Enantiomers

Mirror images of each other but not superimposable due to an asymmetric carbon

Important in pharmaceutical industry Examples: L-Dopa and Thalidomide

Functional Groups

Groups of atoms commonly part of carbon skeletons that give certain properties to organic molecules

There are a number of functional groups given in your book (see chart on pg. 58)

The Hydroxyl Group -OH

Alcohols (names end in ol) Example: Ethanol Polar Can form hydrogen bonds with sugars

which aids them in dissolving organic compounds such as sugars

Carbonyl Group >CO

Form both Ketones (if it occurs within a carbon skeleton) and Aldehydes(if it occurs at the end of a carbon skeleton)

The simplest ketone is acetone An aldehyde is Propanal Both groups are found in sugars Ketones form ketose sugars and aldehydes form

aldose sugars May be strucural isomers as in acetone and

propanal

Carboxyl Group -COOH

Organic or carboxylic acids Example: Acetic acid (vinegar) Has acidic properties (donates hydrogen

ions) because the bond between hydrogen and oxygen is so polar

Can be found in cells in ionized form (Ex: Acetate ions)

Amino Group -NH2

Consists of a Nitrogen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms and then to a carbon skeleton

Known as amines Examples are the amino acids like Glycine Generally acts as a base by picking up H+ ions

from the surrounding solution (the aqueous solution in living organisms)

Under cellular conditions it is usually in ionized form. (1+)

Sulfhydryl Group -SH

Consists of a sulfur atom bonded to hydrogen Compounds referred to as Thiols Example: the amino acid Cysteine Two of these groups can form a covalent bond

and cross link to stabilize protein structure These cross-links also determine the

straightness or curliness of hair

Phosphate Group -PO3 2-

A phosphorus atom is bonded to four oxygen atoms One oxygen is bonded to the carbon skeleton while

two carry negative charges Referred to as organic phosphates Ex: Glycerol phosphate which is a backbone for

phospholipids which are the most prevalent molecules in cell membranes

Can react with water to release energy Contributes negative charge to the molecule that

contains it

Methyl Group -CH3

Consists of a carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms

Can be bonded to the carbon or a different atom Referred to as Methylated Compounds Addition of a methyl group to DNA effects gene

expression and arrangement of methyl groups in sex hormones affects their shape and funtion

Ex: 5-Methyl cytidine (part of DNA that has been modified by adding a methyl group