T H E V E R S A T I L I T Y O F C A R B O N - T H E
B U I L D I N G B L O C K S O F L I F E !

Why Carbon Compounds? (Why not another element?
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Bonding Properties
4 Covalent Bonds
Endless possibilities!

Living Organisms and Carbon
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All life is built on Carbon
75% Water
25% Carbon compounds!
Four Types:
--Carbohydrates
--Lipids
--Proteins
--Nucleic Acids

Hydrocarbons
These are examples of hydrocarbons.
-Hydrophobic
-Stable
-Very little attraction between molecules
-Mostly gases at normal temperatures and pressures

Hydrocarbons Can Grow

Isomers
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Molecules with the same elements, but with different physical structures
They have different chemical properties and can affect living systems in different ways.

Form Affects Function
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Structural differences create important functional significance
Example:
 medicines
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L-version active
 but not D-version
 sometimes with tragic results…

Form Affects Function
 Thalidomide
 prescribed to pregnant women in 50s & 60s
 reduced morning sickness, but…
 stereoisomer caused severe birth defects

Functional Groups of Carbon Compounds
 Parts of organic molecules that are involved in chemical reactions
 give organic molecules distinctive properties
 hydroxyl
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 amino carbonyl
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 carboxyl sulfhydryl phosphate methyl

Effects of Different Functional Groups
 Basic structure of male & female hormones is identical
 attachment of different functional groups interacts with different targets in the body—produces different effects!

Hydroxyl Group
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-OH
Organic compounds with OH groups are called alcohols
Names typically end in “ol” (example: ethanol)

Amino Group
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-NH2
Carbon compounds attached to NH2 are called amines
--NH2 acts as a base and can easily pick up H+ ions
Found in amino acids

Carbonyl Group
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Carbon double-bonded to oxygen
May be in the middle or at the end of the carbon chain

Carboxyl Group
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Carbon is double-bonded to oxygen and singlebonded to a hydroxyl (OH) group.
Compounds with a Carboxyl group (COOH) are acids.
Examples: Amino Acids, Fatty Acids

Sulfhydryl Group
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-SH
Carbon compound is bonded to a sulfur-hydrogen group.
Compounds with sulfhydryl groups are called thiols.
Sulfhydryl groups stabilize protein molecules.

Phosphate Group
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-PO4
Lots of oxygen=lots of negative charge! (Why?)
Highly reactive group
Transfers energy between organic molecules (ex:
ATP)

Methyl Group
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CH3
May be attached to any carbon on a compound.