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Chapter 4
Carbon and Molecular Diversity of Life
5
Biology
Undergraduate 1
09/21/2008

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Term
Explain how carbon's electron configuration accounts for its ability to form large, complex, and diverse organic molecules.
Definition
Carbons electron conviguration may creater larger compounds in that its valence shell holds four electrons. There are four more places for other elements with an active valence shell to attach.
Term
Describe how carbon skeletons may very, and explain how this variation contributes to the diversity and complexity of organic molecules.
Definition
Carbon skeletons may very in length, branching, double bonds, and rings. These veriations show the diversity of molecules in that the same elements can be bonded together in different ways.
Term
Describe the basic structure ofa hydrocarbon and explain why these molecules are hydrophobic.
Definition
Atoms of hydrogen are attached to the carbon skeleton wherever electrons are available for covalent bonding. These molocules are hydrophobic because its products (petroleum) do not dissolve n water.
Term
Distinguish among the three types of isomers: structural, geometric, and enantiomer.
Definition
Structural: differ in the covalent arrangements of their atoms.
Geometric: has the same covalent partnerships, but they differ in their spatial arrangements.
Enantiomer: molecules that are mirror images of each other.
Term
Name the major functional groups found in organic molecules. Describe the basic strcuture of each functional group and outline the chemical properties of the organic molecules in which they occure.
Definition
Hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl, and phosphate groups.
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