CARBON
CARBON
Concept 4.1: Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds
• Organic chemistry is the study of compounds that contain carbon
• Organic compounds range from simple molecules to colossal ones
• Most organic compounds contain hydrogen atoms in addition to carbon atoms
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Fig. 4-2
Water vapor
H 2NH
3
“Atmosphere”
Electrode
Condenser
Coldwater
Cooled watercontainingorganicmolecules
Sample forchemical analysis
H2O“sea”
EXPERIMENT
CH4
Concept 4.2: Carbon atoms can form diverse molecules by bonding to four other atoms
• Electron configuration is the key to an atom’s characteristics
• Electron configuration determines the kinds and number of bonds an atom will form with other atoms
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The Formation of Bonds with Carbon
• With four valence electrons, carbon can form four covalent bonds with a variety of atoms
• This tetravalence makes large, complex molecules possible
• In molecules with multiple carbons, each carbon bonded to four other atoms has a tetrahedral shape
• However, when two carbon atoms are joined by a double bond, the molecule has a flat shape
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Fig. 4-3
NameMolecular Formula
Structural Formula
Ball-and-StickModel
Space-FillingModel
(a) Methane
(b) Ethane
(c) Ethene (ethylene)
• Carbon atoms can partner with atoms other than hydrogen; for example:– Carbon dioxide: CO2
– Urea: CO(NH2)2
O = C = O
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Molecular Diversity Arising from Carbon Skeleton Variation
• Carbon chains form the skeletons of most organic molecules
• Carbon chains vary in length and shape
Animation: Carbon Skeletons
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Fig. 4-5
Ethane Propane1-Butene 2-Butene
(c) Double bonds
(d) RingsCyclohexane Benzene
Butane 2-Methylpropane(commonly called isobutane)
(b) Branching
(a) Length
Hydrocarbons
• Hydrocarbons are organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen
• Many organic molecules, such as fats, have hydrocarbon components
• Hydrocarbons can undergo reactions that release a large amount of energy
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Isomers
• Isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures and properties:– Structural isomers have different covalent
arrangements of their atoms– Geometric isomers have the same covalent
arrangements but differ in spatial arrangements– Enantiomers are isomers that are mirror images of
each other
Animation: Isomers
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Fig. 4-7
Pentane
(a) Structural isomers
(b) Geometric isomers
2-methyl butane
cis isomer: The two Xs areon the same side.
trans isomer: The two Xs areon opposite sides.
(c) Enantiomers
L isomer D isomer
Concept 4.3: A small number of chemical groups are key to the functioning of biological molecules
• Distinctive properties of organic molecules depend not only on the carbon skeleton but also on the molecular components attached to it
• A number of characteristic groups are often attached to skeletons of organic molecules
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The Chemical Groups Most Important in the Processes of Life
• Functional groups are the components of organic molecules that are most commonly involved in chemical reactions
• The number and arrangement of functional groups give each molecule its unique properties
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Fig. 4-9
Estradiol
Testosterone
• The seven functional groups that are most important in the chemistry of life:– Hydroxyl group– Carbonyl group– Carboxyl group– Amino group– Sulfhydryl group– Phosphate group– Methyl group
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Fig. 4-10aHydroxylCHEMICAL
GROUP
STRUCTURE
NAME OF COMPOUND
EXAMPLE
FUNCTIONALPROPERTIES
Carbonyl Carboxyl
(may be written HO—)
In a hydroxyl group (—OH), ahydrogen atom is bonded to anoxygen atom, which in turn isbonded to the carbon skeleton ofthe organic molecule. (Do notconfuse this functional groupwith the hydroxide ion, OH–.)
When an oxygen atom isdouble-bonded to a carbonatom that is also bonded toan —OH group, the entireassembly of atoms is calleda carboxyl group (—COOH).
Carboxylic acids, or organicacids
Ketones if the carbonyl group iswithin a carbon skeleton
Aldehydes if the carbonyl groupis at the end of the carbonskeleton
Alcohols (their specific namesusually end in -ol)
Ethanol, the alcohol present inalcoholic beverages
Acetone, the simplest ketone Acetic acid, which gives vinegarits sour taste
Propanal, an aldehyde
Has acidic propertiesbecause the covalent bondbetween oxygen and hydrogenis so polar; for example,
Found in cells in the ionizedform with a charge of 1– andcalled a carboxylate ion (here,specifically, the acetate ion).
Acetic acid Acetate ion
A ketone and an aldehyde maybe structural isomers withdifferent properties, as is thecase for acetone and propanal.
These two groups are alsofound in sugars, giving rise totwo major groups of sugars:aldoses (containing analdehyde) and ketoses(containing a ketone).
Is polar as a result of theelectrons spending more timenear the electronegative oxygen atom.Can form hydrogen bonds withwater molecules, helpingdissolve organic compoundssuch as sugars.
The carbonyl group ( CO)consists of a carbon atomjoined to an oxygen atom by adouble bond.
Fig. 4-10bCHEMICALGROUP
STRUCTURE
NAME OFCOMPOUND
EXAMPLE
FUNCTIONALPROPERTIES
Amino Sulfhydryl Phosphate Methyl
A methyl group consists of acarbon bonded to threehydrogen atoms. The methylgroup may be attached to acarbon or to a different atom.
In a phosphate group, aphosphorus atom is bonded tofour oxygen atoms; one oxygenis bonded to the carbon skeleton;two oxygens carry negativecharges. The phosphate group(—OPO3
2–, abbreviated ) is anionized form of a phosphoric acidgroup (—OPO3H2; note the twohydrogens).
P
The sulfhydryl groupconsists of a sulfur atombonded to an atom ofhydrogen; resembles ahydroxyl group in shape.
(may bewritten HS—)
The amino group(—NH2) consists of anitrogen atom bondedto two hydrogen atomsand to the carbon skeleton.
Amines Thiols Organic phosphates Methylated compounds
5-Methyl cytidine
5-Methyl cytidine is acomponent of DNA that hasbeen modified by addition ofthe methyl group.
In addition to taking part inmany important chemicalreactions in cells, glycerolphosphate provides thebackbone for phospholipids,the most prevalent molecules incell membranes.
Glycerol phosphate
Cysteine
Cysteine is an importantsulfur-containing aminoacid.
Glycine
Because it also has acarboxyl group, glycineis both an amine anda carboxylic acid;compounds with bothgroups are called amino acids.
Addition of a methyl groupto DNA, or to moleculesbound to DNA, affectsexpression of genes.
Arrangement of methylgroups in male and femalesex hormones affectstheir shape and function.
Contributes negative chargeto the molecule of which it isa part (2– when at the end ofa molecule; 1– when locatedinternally in a chain ofphosphates).Has the potential to reactwith water, releasing energy.
Two sulfhydryl groupscan react, forming acovalent bond. This“cross-linking” helpsstabilize proteinstructure.Cross-linking ofcysteines in hairproteins maintains thecurliness or straightnessof hair. Straight hair canbe “permanently” curledby shaping it aroundcurlers, then breakingand re-forming thecross-linking bonds.
Acts as a base; canpick up an H+ fromthe surroundingsolution (water, in living organisms).
Ionized, with acharge of 1+, undercellular conditions.
(nonionized) (ionized)
ATP: An Important Source of Energy for Cellular Processes
• One phosphate molecule, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), is the primary energy-transferring molecule in the cell
• ATP consists of an organic molecule called adenosine attached to a string of three phosphate groups
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Fig. 4-UN3
Adenosine
You should now be able to:
1. Explain how carbon’s electron configuration explains its ability to form large, complex, diverse organic molecules
2. Describe how carbon skeletons may vary and explain how this variation contributes to the diversity and complexity of organic molecules
3. Distinguish among the three types of isomers: structural, geometric, and enantiomer
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4. Name the major functional groups found in organic molecules; describe the basic structure of each functional group and outline the chemical properties of the organic molecules in which they occur
5. Explain how ATP functions as the primary energy transfer molecule in living cells
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