B1.1 Carbon Chemistry
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What property of carbon allows it to form the basis of life?
Carbon forms four covalent bonds → can make chains, rings, sheets → basis of organic molecules.
Define “organic molecule.”
Molecule containing carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen, often with O, N, P, S.
What are functional groups?
Specific groups of atoms that attach to the C–H backbone and determine chemical properties.
What is a monomer?
Structural unit or building block of a macromolecule.
Which macromolecule does not have a repeating monomer?
Lipids (diverse structures).
Give the structural units of each macromolecule:
Carbohydrates → sugar (monosaccharide) Proteins → amino acid Lipids → not applicable Nucleic acids → nucleotide
Give the elements present in each macromolecule:
Carbohydrates: C, H, O Proteins: C, H, O, N, S Lipids: C, H, O Nucleic acids: C, H, O, N, P
What property of carbon makes it the basis of life?
Carbon has 4 valence electrons → forms up to 4 covalent bonds → allows chains, rings, branched molecules.
Define functional group.
A specific group of atoms attached to a carbon backbone that determines the chemical properties (e.g. hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, phosphate).
What type of bonds hold carbon atoms together?
Covalent bonds.
Give an example of carbon variety in molecules.
Graphite, Buckminster fullerene, benzene, urea, uric acid, acetylcholine. (General carbon + carbohydrate chemistry)
What are the four classes of macromolecules?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.
Give the general formula of carbohydrates.
C(_x)(H₂O)(_y).
What is a monosaccharide?
A single sugar monomer (e.g. glucose, fructose, galactose).
What are the two major functions of monosaccharides?
(1) Primary energy source, (2) building blocks for larger carbohydrates.
How do monosaccharides form disaccharides/polysaccharides?
By condensation reactions (glycosidic bonds, release water).
How are polysaccharides broken down?
Hydrolysis reactions (add water).
Difference between ribose and deoxyribose?
Ribose = OH on C2, Deoxyribose = H on C2.
Structural difference α-glucose vs β-glucose?
Orientation of OH group on C1 (α = down, β = up).
Why can cellulose form strong fibers?
β-glucose chains + H-bonding between them.
Why is starch not fibrous like cellulose?
Made of α-glucose, forms helical structures.
Examples of carbohydrate functions.
Starch = storage in plants, Glycogen = storage in animals, Cellulose = structural in plant cell walls.