LG 3 QUESTIONS 1-5

1. Explain how the carbon atom is the key to the diversity of organic, biological molecules.
The carbon atom is key because it's tetra-valency.  Because carbon is a group 4 element it has four bonds and can form an extremely wide range of compounds and molecular structures. Also, being in the middle of the periodic table it can bond with both metals and non metals. It is the main component of almost all long chain molecules. All sugars, alcohols, plastics, petroleum products, proteins, etc are based around carbon atoms.

2. Describe the 6 most important functional groups in biological molecules and identify the main roles of each.

 Hydroxyl: Which is a covalent bond between Oxygen and Hydrogen (-OH)

Carbonyl: Which can be an Aldehyde (O=C-H) where Oxygen is double bonded to carbon, which is single bonged to Hydrogen. It can also be a Ketone (C=0) which is a Double bond between Carbon and Oxygen

Carboxyl: Oxygen double bonded to carbon which is single bonded to a hydroxyl (Oxygen and hydrogen) (O=C-OH)

Amine: Hydrogen single bonded to nitrogen single bonded to another hydrogen

Phosphate: Hydroxyl group single bonded to phosphate double bonded to Oxygen, single bonded to a hydroxyl, and single bonded to another oxygen

Sulfhydryl: Sulfate single bonded to Hydrogen (-S-H)

3. What is the key chemical difference between the functional groups and the carbon skeletons to which they attach?
Both carbon skeletons and functional groups have a certain amounts oxygen, hydrogen and carbon atoms, except in different arrangements to define specific properties.

4. Describe the basic principle of the process of polymerization as it applies to the formation of organic molecules.
Polymerization is a chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer, it applies to organic molecules because most monomers will bond to become organic compounds, because of carbons versatility.


5. What is the relationship between dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis reactions in the chemistry of biological molecules?
(Previously posted on blog-under dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis)