Chap 4 Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

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The carbonyl group (-C=O) consists of a carbon atom joined to an oxygen atom by a double bond. Ketones have the carbonyl group within a carbon skeleton.
Aldehydeshave the carbonyl group at the end of the carbon skeleton.

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L-alanine is a stereo isomer of D-alanine. Only L isomers are used to make proteins.

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Geometric isomers such as retinal differ in arrangement about a double bond. Cis isomers have large components on the same side relative to the double bond, while trans isomers have large components on opposite sides.

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Vitamin A (all-trans retinol, an alcohol) is the precursor to 11-cis retinal, a molecule involved in night vision.

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Structural isomers such as pentane and 2-methyl butane differ in covalent partners.

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Isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures.

  1. Structural isomers such as pentanes and 2-methyl butane (isopentane) differ in the covalent arrangements of their atoms.
  2. Geometric isomers differ in their spatial arrangements around a double bond.
    Cis isomers have two groups on the same side relative to the double bond.
    Trans isomers have two groups on opposite sides relative to the double bond. For example, the biochemistry of vision involves a light–induced change of rhodopsin, a chemical compound in the eye, from the cis isomer to the trans isomer.
  3. Enantiomers (or optical or stereo isomers) contain an asymmetric carbon and are mirror images of each other.

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The methyl group (-CH3) consists of a carbon atom bonded to 3 hydrogen atoms. The weak electronegativity of the carbon atom makes this group nonpolar and hydrophobic.

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A phosphate group contains a phosphorus atom bonded to 4 oxygen atoms; two of the oxygens usually lose their hydrogen atoms and become negatively charged (-OPO32-).
Phosphate groups can transfer energy between organic molecules.

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The sulfhydryl group (HS-) consists of a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom. A major role played by this group is stabilizing protein structure.

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In 1828, Friedrich Wöhler synthesized the organic compound urea from inorganic ammonium (NH4+) and cyanate ions (CNO?).