Carbon
Chemistry of Life
• Organic compound: a molecular compound based
on carbon (ex. C6H12O6)
• Carbon has 4 bonding electrons
– forms 4 strong covalent bonds
• Carbon can form long chains, rings or branched
structures
Functional Groups:
• Groups of atoms that tend to react in a
particular way
• Groups may change the chemical properties of
the organic molecules to which they are
attached