The Carbon Chemistry of Life

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The Carbon Chemistry of Life

Carbon Chemistry

·

All chemicals of life (except water) are carbon

based. They are referred to as the organic compounds.

·

The 4 major classes of organic chemicals are of

biological importance are produced only in living cells. They include

carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

·

Carbon is the backbone of these molecules.

·

It forms 4 stable bonds.

·

It often bonds with H to form hydrocarbons.

Functional Groups

·

Groups that consist of clusters of reactive

elements such as C, H, O, N, P.

·

The most common functional groups are:

Group

Major

Classes of Molecules

Hydroxyl

Alcohols

Sulfhydryl

Many cellular molecules

Phosphate

Nucleotides, nucleic acids, many other

cellular molecules

Amino

Amino acids

Carboxyl

Organic acids

Carbonyl

Aldehydes

Ketones

Characteristics

of Functional Groups

·

Makes them very reactive.

·

Important to help the large macromolecules

interactive with other molecules in the body.

·

Compare: ethane (non-polar) and ethanol (polar)

·

Ethanol could dissolve in the cytosol and be used

as an energy source.

·

Carboxyl, COOH, and Phosphate, PO₄, both release

a proton in aqueous solutions, making them act as acids.

·

Amino groups, NH₂, are able to accept a H⁺,

making them a weak base.