bio 1115 chapter 4

  1. Define organic chemistry.
    It's the study of compounds that contain carbon.
  2. Why is carbon so important for life?
    • cell's are 70-90% water, the rest consists of carbon-based compounds
    • ability to for large, complex and diverse molecules
    • proteins, DNA, carbohydrates and other molecules that distinguish living matter are all composed of carbon compounds
  3. Define electron configuration.
    It determines the kinds and number of bonds an atom will for with other atoms.
  4. how many electrons does a carbon have in its valence shell?
    four
  5. What types of bond are carbon most likely to form?
    covalent bonds
  6. define tetravalence. how does this help carbon?
    Tetravalence is being able to share 4 bonds. Tetravalence of carbon makes large, complex molecules possible.
  7. Molecular diversity arises from the variation in the _________.
    carbon skeleton
  8. What forms the skeletons of most organic molecules?
    Carbon chains
  9. Carbon chains vary in _________ and ________.
    length and shape
  10. What are hydrocarbons?
    they are organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen.
  11. Hydrocarbons can undergo reaction that release a large amount of _________.
    energy
  12. Would you expect hydrocarbons to be hydrophilic or hydrophobic? why?
    hydrophobic because they are non polar covalent bonds. (carbon and hydrogen have same electronegativity)
Author
Anonymous
ID
239949
Card Set
bio 1115 chapter 4
Description
carbon and the molecular diversity of life.
Updated