Carbon & Molecular Diversity of Life
4.1 Organic Chemistry is the study of organic compounds
Introduction
4.2 Carbon atoms can form diverse molecules by bonding to four other atoms
4.3 A few chemical groups are the key to molecular function
Carbon: The Backbone of Life
living organisms are made up of chemical based mostly on carbon
unparalleled in it's ability to form molecules that are large, complex and varied
Molecular diversity arising from variation in carbon skeleton
Hydrocarbons
leads to a great diversity of organisms that evolved on Earth
Isomers
organic molecules made up of only hydrogen and carbon
Compounds that have the same number of atoms of same elements but different structures and properties
Structural Isomers
differ in covalent arrangements
Organic Chemistry-study of compounds containing carbon (aka organic)
Organic molecules and the origin of life on Earth
Cis-trans Isomers
differ in their special arrangements
Enantiomers
mirror images, but has asymmetric carbon
Stanley Miller Experiment
variation in carbon skeletons = molecular complexity and diversity of all living matter
Formation of bonds with carbon
Number of unpaired electrons in valence shell = atom's valence
atom's valence is the amount of covalent bonds it can form
water vapor goes to atmosphere then struck by sparks to simulate lightning and create organic molecule
carbon can form large complex molecules because it can make up to four different covalent bonds (it needs 4 more electrons
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functional groups: chemical groups directly involved in chemical reactions
7 groups most important in biological processes:
cis: same sides
trans: opposite sides
Carbon atom completes its valence shell by sharing its 4 electrons with other atoms
