Questions and Answers
The element present in all organic molecules is _____.
carbon
The complexity and variety of organic molecules is due to _____.
the chemical versatility of carbon atoms
The experimental approach taken in current biological investigations presumes that _____.
living organisms can be understood in terms of the same physical and chemical laws that can be used to explain all natural phenomena
Differences among organisms are caused by differences in the _____.
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Stanley Miller's 1953 experiments supported the hypothesis that _____.
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When Stanley Miller applied heat and electrical sparks to a mixture of simple inorganic compounds such as methane, hydrogen gas, ammonia, and water vapor, what compounds were produced?
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Which of the following is true of carbon?
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Why is carbon so important in biology?
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How many electron pairs does carbon share to complete its valence shell?
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A carbon atom is most likely to form what kind of bond(s) with other atoms?
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Why are hydrocarbons insoluble in water?
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Which of the following statements correctly describes cis-trans isomers?
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Research indicates that ibuprofen, a drug used to relieve inflammation and pain, is a mixture of two enantiomers; that is, molecules that ____.
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What determines whether a carbon atom's covalent bonds to other atoms are in a tetrahedral configuration or a planar configuration?
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Compared to a hydrocarbon chain where all the carbon atoms are linked by single bonds, a hydrocarbon chain with the same number of carbon atoms, but with one or more double bonds, will ____.
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Organic molecules with only hydrogens and five carbon atoms cannot ____.
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Which of the following molecules is polar?
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Which of the functional groups below acts most like an acid in water?
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A compound contains hydroxyl groups as its predominant functional group. Therefore, this compound ____.
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Which two functional groups are always found in amino acids?
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Amino acids are acids because they always possess which functional group?
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A hydrocarbon skeleton is covalently bonded to an amino group at one end and a carboxyl group at the other end. When placed in water this molecule would function ____.
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Which chemical group can act as an acid?
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Testosterone and estradiol are male and female sex hormones, respectively, in many vertebrates. In what way(s) do these molecules differ from each other?
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Study Notes
Organic Molecules and Carbon
- Carbon is the fundamental element found in all organic molecules.
- The diversity of organic molecules arises from the chemical versatility of carbon atoms.
- Carbon can form a variety of structures, including both polar and nonpolar bonds, allowing for a rich array of compounds.
Biological Investigations
- Current biological research operates under the premise that living organisms can be explained using the same physical and chemical laws that apply to all natural phenomena.
- Variations among organisms stem from differences in the types and relative amounts of organic molecules they synthesize.
Miller's Experiments
- Stanley Miller's 1953 experiments demonstrated that organic compounds can be formed abiotically under conditions similar to those on early Earth.
- Miller's application of heat and electric sparks to simple inorganic compounds yielded amino acids and hydrocarbons.
Carbon Bonding
- A carbon atom typically forms four covalent bonds to satisfy its valence shell.
- Hydrocarbons are largely insoluble in water due to their nonpolar carbon-to-hydrogen bonds.
- The configuration of carbon's covalent bonds can be tetrahedral or planar, influenced by the presence of double bonds.
Structural Isomerism
- Cis-trans isomers showcase variations in arrangement around double bonds.
- Enantiomers are molecules that are mirror images of each other, such as the two forms of ibuprofen.
Functional Groups in Biology
- Hydroxyl groups enhance a compound's solubility in water.
- Carboxyl groups act as acids in aqueous solutions; they are present in all amino acids.
- Testosterone and estradiol differ in their functional groups while retaining the same carbon skeleton.
Summary of Key Functional Groups
- Amino acids contain both carboxyl and amino functional groups.
- Carboxyl groups are responsible for acidity in biological molecules.
- A hydrocarbon skeleton linked to both an amino and carboxyl group can act as both an acid and a base when in water.
Polarity and Hydrocarbons
- Both C3H7OH and C2H5COOH are identified as polar molecules due to the presence of certain functional groups.
- Organic molecules made up exclusively of hydrogen and five carbon atoms cannot form enantiomers.
Structural Constraints
- Hydrocarbon chains with double bonds are more constrained in their structural configuration compared to chains comprised solely of single bonds.
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Description
Explore the essential role of carbon in organic molecules through this quiz on biological investigations and Miller's experiments. Understand how carbon's versatility leads to the diversity of compounds vital for life. Test your knowledge on the importance of organic chemistry in biology.
