Chapter 4 Organic Chemistry I.

The Importance of Carbon What is Organic Chemistry The study of carbon compounds Inorganic chemistry is the study of non-carbon compounds

organic means living once thought that only living things contain carbon. Now they know differently Jons Jakob Berzelius was the first to make a distinction between living organic and nonliving organic compounds belief of vitalism Friedrich Wohler made urea from ammonium and cyanate ions Hermann Kolbe made acetic acid from inorganic substances

In 1953, the theory of vitalism was destroyed by Stanley Miller with his Early Earth experiment A. The Versatility of Carbon Remember that most of the properties of an atom are due to valence electrons what type of bonds and how many are formed with other atoms Carbon has 4 valence electrons and usually forms covalent bonds

These 4 electrons allow a carbon molecule to branch off in up to 4 directions tetravalence The bonds formed around carbon determine the shape of the molecule and thus the function of the molecule 4 single bonds = tetrahedron double and triple bonds = atoms in the same plane

e- configuration of carbon allows it to bond with many different types of atoms. It most commonly bonds with H, O, and N. B. Variation in Carbon Skeletons Carbon is unique in that it can continuously bond with itself, forming long skeletons of carbon Skeletons can be straight, bent, or closed rings

Hydrocarbon organic molecules consisting of hydrogen and carbon fats, fossil fuels hydrophobic because the bonds are nonpolar store a large amount of energy

Isomer compounds with the same MF but different structures, thus different properties Structural Isomers differ in covalent arrangements of their atoms Geometric Isomers same covalent partnerships but different spatial arrangements Enantiomers molecules that are mirror images of each other

Functional Groups Hydroxyl group A.

-OH (this is not the same as a hydroxide ion) molecules with this are called alcohols it is polar, so molecules with the hydroxyl group dissolve in water

Carbonyl Group Aldehyde structure Ketone structure Commonly found in carbs and fat

B.

Carboxyl Group Structure (-COOH)

Known as organic acids (ex acetic acid) Acidic due to the H breaking off in solution

C.

Amino Group Structure Called Amines Mostly found in Amino Acids the building blocks of proteins (-NH2)

D.

Sulfhydryl group -SH Called thiols (this is what makes your feces stink) Helps stabilize proteins

E.

Phosphate Group Structure Not the same as the phosphate ion Found in ATP (energy of cells)

Carbon skeletons bound to the phosphate group are called organic phosphates or organophosphates (used in a lot of poisons)