Carbon: The Backbone of Life
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Questions and Answers

What is unique about carbon in terms of its ability to form molecules?

  • It can form molecules that are large, complex, and varied (correct)
  • It can only form small molecules
  • It can only form molecules with hydrogen
  • It can only form molecules with oxygen

    • The study of carbon compounds is called inorganic chemistry.

    False

    What is the term for the process by which producers, such as plants, convert atmospheric CO2 into carbon-based molecules?

    photosynthesis

    Plants and other photosynthetic organisms use ______________________ energy to transform atmospheric CO2 into the carbon-based molecules of life.

    <p>solar</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the common ingredients of carbon-based compounds in living organisms?

    <p>Hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and phosphorus (P)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following elements with their symbols:

    <p>Hydrogen = H Oxygen = O Nitrogen = N Sulfur = S Phosphorus = P</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Carbon is the only element necessary for life.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the focus of Chapter 5 in the context of biological molecules?

    <p>Large biological molecules, such as proteins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Friedrich Wöhler trying to make when he accidentally synthesized urea?

    <p>Ammonium cyanate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Organic chemistry is the study of compounds found only in living organisms.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of Stanley Miller's experiment in 1953?

    <p>It demonstrated that complex organic molecules could arise spontaneously under conditions thought to have existed on the early Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The valence electrons of an atom are available to form bonds with other atoms and are found in the ____________________ shell.

    <p>outermost</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical number of bonds formed by a carbon atom in organic molecules?

    <p>4</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The bond angles in methane (CH4) are 90°.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following chemical groups is known to often serve as a recognizable tag on biological molecules?

    <p>Methyl group</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Amino groups are hydrophobic and increase the solubility of organic compounds in water.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The arrangement of a carbon atom's four hybrid orbitals causes its bonds to angle toward the corners of an imaginary ____________________.

    <p>tetrahedron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What two hormones are compared in the context of their chemical groups' effects on biological function?

    <p>Estradiol and testosterone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is unique about carbon's electron configuration?

    <p>It has 4 valence electrons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of carbon that enables it to form large, complex molecules?

    <p>Its ability to act as an intersection point from which a molecule can branch off in as many as four directions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    ATP is made up of an organic molecule called __________ attached to a string of three phosphate groups.

    <p>adenosine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following compounds with their properties:

    <p>Methane (CH4) = Has 109.5° bond angles Ethane (C2H6) = Shaped like two overlapping tetrahedrons Urea = An organic compound present in the urine of animals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following chemical groups with their characteristics:

    <p>Hydroxyl = Polar and increases solubility Carboxyl = Acidic properties and can donate H+ Phosphate = Energy storage and transfer Sulfhydryl = Stabilizes protein structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following elements is considered the 'virtuoso' of the covalent bond?

    <p>Carbon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The chemical groups attached to a carbon skeleton do not influence the properties of an organic molecule.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to ATP when it loses one phosphate group?

    <p>It becomes adenosine diphosphate (ADP).</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The seven chemical groups important in biological processes include hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, __________, phosphate, and methyl.

    <p>sulfhydryl</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do functional groups primarily contribute to biological molecules?

    <p>By affecting molecular shape and participating in reactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of isomer has the same number of atoms but different covalent arrangements?

    <p>Structural isomers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Enantiomers are isomers that are completely identical and interchangeable.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two distinct arrangements of cis-trans isomers called?

    <p>Cis isomer and trans isomer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Trans fats are considered _______ fats formed during food processing.

    <p>harmful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following types of isomers with their characteristics:

    <p>Structural isomers = Differ in covalent arrangements Cis-trans isomers = Differ in spatial arrangement around double bonds Enantiomers = Mirror image versions with asymmetric carbon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which isomer type is most important in the pharmaceutical industry due to different biological effects?

    <p>Enantiomers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The number of possible isomers decreases as the size of carbon skeletons increases.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of bond restricts rotation and leads to cis-trans isomerism?

    <p>Double bond</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Isomers that differ in shape due to an asymmetric carbon are called _______.

    <p>enantiomers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following substances with their effects:

    <p>Ibuprofen = Pain relief Albuterol = Asthma relief Methamphetamine (crank) = Highly addictive stimulant Other enantiomer of Methamphetamine = Weaker nasal decongestant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of bond joins the two carbon atoms in ethene (C2H4)?

    <p>Double bond</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered an organic molecule despite having only one carbon atom.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one of the four main atoms commonly found in organic molecules.

    <p>Carbon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Hydrocarbons are organic molecules consisting of only __________ and hydrogen.

    <p>carbon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following molecules with their descriptions:

    <p>CO2 = Contains one carbon atom attached to two oxygen atoms Urea = An organic compound synthesized from ammonia Ethene = A molecule with a double bond between two carbon atoms Hydrocarbon = A molecule composed only of carbon and hydrogen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the shape of a molecule play?

    <p>Influences its biological function</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Carbon can form a maximum of three covalent bonds with other atoms.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic of hydrocarbons makes them hydrophobic?

    <p>Non-polar carbon-to-hydrogen bonds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The arrangement of atoms in a molecule called _______ is central to its function.

    <p>shape</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following compounds is considered a fossil fuel?

    <p>Petroleum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Carbon: The Backbone of Life

    • Living organisms primarily consist of carbon-based chemicals, essential for the complexity of life.
    • Producers, such as plants, convert atmospheric CO2 into organic molecules through photosynthesis.
    • Carbon's unique ability to form large, complex, and varied molecules contributes to the diversity of life forms on Earth.
    • Biological macromolecules, including proteins, DNA, and carbohydrates, are largely composed of carbon atoms.

    Organic Chemistry and Historical Context

    • Organic chemistry focuses on carbon compounds; historically, it was believed that organic compounds could only arise in living organisms.
    • Friedrich Wöhler's synthesis of urea in 1828 marked a turning point, demonstrating that organic compounds can be created in the lab.
    • The redefinition of organic chemistry encompasses all carbon compounds, regardless of origin.

    Organic Molecules and Evolution

    • Stanley Miller's 1953 experiment suggested that simple organic molecules could form under early Earth conditions, supporting theories of abiotic synthesis.
    • The elemental composition of life (C, H, O, N, S, P) is consistent across species, reflecting common evolutionary origins.
    • Carbon's four valence electrons allow it to create diverse organic molecules, leading to variations among species and individuals.

    Carbon Bonding and Structure

    • Carbon has six electrons, four of which are valence electrons enabling it to form covalent bonds with up to four other atoms.
    • The tetrahedral shape of carbon molecules results from the hybridization of its orbitals, affecting bond angles and molecule function.
    • Different carbon arrangements generate various structural forms, significantly influencing molecular properties and biological functions.

    Isomers and Molecular Diversity

    • Isomers have identical molecular formulas but different structures, leading to distinctive properties and functions.
    • Structural isomers vary in covalent arrangements, while cis-trans isomers differ in spatial arrangements due to double bonds.
    • Enantiomers are mirror-image isomers that can have very different biological effects, crucial in pharmaceutical applications.

    Chemical Groups and Molecular Functions

    • The properties of organic molecules depend on carbon skeletons and attached chemical groups which influence reactivity and shape.
    • Key functional groups include hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl, phosphate, and methyl.
    • Functional groups are vital for chemical reactions; they enhance solubility and determine the unique characteristics of molecules.

    ATP: Energy Source in Cells

    • Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a crucial energy carrier, consisting of adenosine and three phosphate groups.
    • The cleavage of a phosphate group releases energy, powering cellular processes; ATP is often described as having potential energy rather than storing it.

    Elements of Life and Carbon's Versatility

    • Life is primarily composed of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, all of which form strong covalent bonds.
    • Carbon's versatility enables the formation of diverse organic molecules, essential for the biological complexity and diversity evident on Earth.

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    Description

    Understanding the role of carbon in living organisms, its entry into the biosphere, and its presence in producers and consumers.

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