NOTES FOR BIOLOGY 1201

Section 001

Spring 2005

DR. STEVEN POMARICO

Carbon Chemistry and Isomers 2.4.1

>>>>>>>>Aside from water, most biologically related molecules contain carbon.

Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds

---Organic chemistry

---Organic molecules

Carbon atoms are the most versatile building blocks of molecules

---Hydrocarbons

Variations in the carbon skeleton can contribute to the diversity of organic molecules.

>>>Isomers

---Isomers

Three types of isomers:

          structural isomers, geometric isomers, and enantiomers.

---Structural Isomers

---Geometric Isomers

---Enantiomers

This requires an asymmetric carbon. The resulting mirror image compounds may have different biological activities.

Functional Side Groups - 2.4.2

Functional groups contribute to the molecular diversity of life

---Functional groups

1) Hydroxyl Group (-OH)

---Hydroxyl group

2) Carbonyl Group (-CO)

---Carbonyl group

aldehyde or ketone.

3) Carboxyl Group (-COOH)

---Carboxyl group

carboxylic acids.

4) Amino Groups (-NH₃)

---Amino groups

amines.

5) Sulfhydryl Groups (-SH)

---Sulfhydryl group

thiols.

6) Phosphate Groups (-PO₄)

---Phosphate group

          -Organic phosphates have biological importance in cellular energy storage

                                and energy transfer. 

7) Methyl Groups (-CH₃)

THIS IS NOT ONE OF THE ONES OUTLINED!!

---Methyl group