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Chapter 4: Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

Concept 4.1 Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds 1. Study this figure of Stanley Millers experiment to simulate conditions thought to have existed on the early Earth. Explain the elements of this experiment, using arrows to indicate what occurs in various parts of the apparatus. See page 59 of your text for the labeled figure. 1. Water mixture in the sea flask was heated; vapor entered the atmosphere flask. 2. The atmosphere contained a mixture of hydrogen gas (H2), methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), and water vapor. 3. Sparks were discharged to mimic lightning. 4. A condenser cooled the atmosphere, raining molecules down into the sea flask. 5. As material cycled through the apparatus, Miller periodically collected samples for analysis. 2. What was collected in the sample for chemical analysis? What was concluded from the results of this experiment? From the samples collected for chemical analysis, Miller identified a variety of organic molecules that are common in organisms. These included simple compounds, such as formaldehyde (CH2O) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and more complex molecules, such as amino acids and long chains of carbon and hydrogen known as hydrocarbons. Miller concluded that organic molecules, a first step in the origin of life, may have been synthesized abiotically on the early Earth. Concept 4.2 Carbon atoms can form diverse molecules by bonding to four other atoms 3. Make an electron distribution diagram of carbon. It is essential that you know the answers to these questions: See page 61 of your text for the labeled figure. a. How many valence electrons does carbon have? 4 b. How many bonds can carbon form? 4 c. What type of bonds does it form with other elements? Covalent bonds

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4.

Carbon chains form skeletons. List here the types of skeletons that can be formed. Straight, Branched, Closed Rings

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What is a hydrocarbon? Name two. Are hydrocarbons hydrophobic or hydrophilic? A hydrocarbon is an organic molecule consisting of only carbon and hydrogen. Possible examples of hydrocarbons include petroleum and fats. Hydrocarbons are hydrophobic compounds, meaning that they do not dissolve in water. Hydrocarbons are hydrophobic because the majority of their bonds are relatively nonpolar carbon-to-hydrogen linkages.

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In Chapter 2 you learned about isotopes. Since students often confuse this word with isomer, define each term here and give an example. Isotope Isomer Definition Different atomic forms of the same element Compounds that have the same number of atoms of the same elements but different structures and therefore different properties Example Possible examples include carbon-12 and radioactive tracers Possible examples include pentane, 2-methyl butane, rhodopsin, trans fats, ibuprofen, and albuterol

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Use this figure to identify the three types of isomers. For each type, give a key character and an example. See page 62 of your text for the labeled figure.

1. Structural isomers: Differ in the covalent arrangement of their atoms. Possible examples include pentane and 2-methyl butane, two isomers of the five-carbon compound with the molecular formula C5H12. 2. Cis-trans isomers: Have covalent bonds to the same atoms, but these atoms differ in their special arrangements due to the inflexibility of double bonds. Possible examples include petroleum and trans fats. 3. Enantiomers: Mirror images of each other that differ in shape due to the presence of an asymmetric carbon, one that is attached to four different atoms, or a group of atoms. Possible examples include ibuprofen and albuterol. 8. Give one example of an enantiomer that varies in its pharmacological effect. Possible examples include ibuprofen (effective as S-ibuprofen and ineffective as Ribuprofen) and albuterol (effective as R-albuterol and ineffective as S-albuterol).

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Concept 4.3 A few chemical groups are key to the functioning of biological molecules 9. Here is an idea that will recur throughout your study of the function of molecules: Change the structure, change the function. You see this in enantiomers, you will see it in proteins and enzymes, and now we are going to look at testosterone and estradiol. Notice how similar these two molecules are, and yet you know what a vastly different effect each has. Label each molecule in the sketch below, and circle the differences. See page 63 in your text for the labeled figure. 10. Define functional group. A functional group is a chemical group that affects molecular function by being directly involved in chemical reactions. 11. There are seven chemical groups important in biological processes that you should know. Using Figure 4.9 in your text, complete the following chart. See pages 64-65 in your text for the labeled chart. Hydroxyl Carbonyl Carboxyl Amino Sulfhydryl Phosphate Methyl Structure Example Functional Properties 12. You will need to master the chart and the information in it. Using the functional groups above, see if you can answer the following prompts: a. NH2 Amino b. Can form cross-links that stabilize protein structure Sulfhydryl c. Key component of ATP Phosphate d. Can affect gene expression Methyl e. CH3 Methyl
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f. Is always polar Hydroxyl g. Determines the two groups of sugars Carbonyl h. Has acidic properties Carboxyl i. COOH Carboxyl j. Acts as a base Amino k. Circle and identify three functional groups in the molecule shown above. See pages 64-65 in your text for the labeled figure. Test Your Understanding Answers Now you should be ready to test your knowledge. Place your answers here: 1. b 2 .b 3. d 4. d 5. a 6. b 7. a

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