Name: ____________________________
Class: ____________________________
Biochemistry Vocabulary/Notes
Why is carbon considered the element of life?

Carbon can form __________________ with other molecules, allowing it to form a wide variety of
structures.

Carbon is ____________________________ (one atom of carbon is small enough to fit in complex
compounds).

In most organic molecules, a linked chain of carbon atoms forms a _____________________ to
which other atoms attach.

STRUCTURE DETERMINES FUNCTION: The unique _______________________
and _____________________ of bonds between carbon atoms creates a structurally diverse set of
organic molecules in nature.

These molecules may be constructed in ___________________, ___________________, or
__________________ carbon chains and may include varying numbers of carbon-carbon single,
double, or triple bonds.
Composition of Matter:
_____________________: the smallest particle of matter that makes up everything
_____________________: a substance whose atoms are all identical, cannot be broken down
_____________________: two or more atoms bonded together (made of either the same or different
elements)
Ex:
or
_____________________: a molecule made from atoms of different elements
Ex: