BIOL111 L3

• Which functional groups should students recognize and explain?

  Hydroxyl, amino, sulphhydryl, carbonyl, carboxyl, and phosphate
• What is the primary basis for the molecules that cells use to function?

  Nearly all molecules are carbon-based
• What unique ability does carbon have in organic chemistry?

  Carbon can form stable chains that are resistant to air and water
• How many bonds can a carbon atom form?

  Four
• What does it mean for carbon to be tetravalent?

  It needs to share four electrons from other atoms
• How can carbon atoms be represented in molecular structures?

  • As tetrahedral if all are single-bonded
  • Using ball and stick or space-filling models
  • Grey represents carbon, red represents hydrogen
• What is the molecular formula for propane?

  CH₃-CH₂-CH₃
• What is the molecular formula for propene?

  CH₃-CH=CH₂
• What is the molecular formula for propanol?

  CH₃CH₂CH₂OH
• What is the molecular formula for propylamine?

  CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₂
• What is the molecular formula for propanoic acid?

  CH₃CH₂COOH
• What is the molecular formula for propanone?

  CH₃COCH₃
• What are functional groups in organic compounds?

  • Parts of molecules involved in chemical reactions
  • Can contain atoms other than carbon
  • Examples include hydroxyl, amino, and carboxyl groups
• What is the functional group for alcohols?

  • OH (Hydroxyl)
• What is the functional group for amines?

  • NH₂ (Amino)
• What is the functional group for thiols?

  • SH (Sulphhydryl)
• What is the functional group for aldehydes?

  Carbonyl (C=O)
• What is the functional group for carboxylic acids?

  • COOH (Carboxyl)
• What is the functional group for phosphates?

  • OPO₃^2- (Phosphate)
• What are isomers in organic chemistry?

  • Organic molecules with the same number of atoms of the same elements
  • Differ in structure
  • Types include structural, geometric, and enantiomers
• What are structural isomers?

  Isomers that differ in covalent partners
• What are geometric isomers?

  Isomers that differ in arrangement around a double bond
• What are enantiomers?

  Molecules that differ only in spatial arrangement around a chiral carbon
• How do enantiomers interact with optically active compounds?


  They differ in the way they interact
• What are the physical and chemical properties of enantiomers?

  • Identical physical and chemical properties
  • Difficult to separate
  • Differ in interaction with optically active compounds
• What is the email address of Dr. Emma Shawcross?

  1. [e-mail]