Download 1. Summarize the philosophies of vitalism and

Chapter 4 Reading Quiz
1. The atoms of what element are
considered the most “versatile”
carbon
building blocks?
2. “Tetra-” refers to what number? four
3. A “hydroxyl” group is represented
by what formula? OH4. What’s in a “sulfhydryl” group? S & H
5. Name a biological structure in which
phosphates are necessary.
1. Summarize the philosophies of vitalism and
mechanism.
Vitalism = belief in a life force outside the
jurisdiction of chemical or physical laws
- 19th century built on this because chemists
couldn’t synthesize organic compounds
Mechanism = belief that all natural phenomena are
governed by physical and chemical laws
- could synthesize organic molecules from
inorganic molecules
- Miller showed possibility that organic
compounds could have been made in primitive
earth 
2. Explain how carbon’s electron
configuration determines the kinds and
number of bonds carbon will form.
• Carbon shows a tetravalent electron
configuration
• 4 bonds are allowed due to the emergent
properties from the 4 valence electrons
• 6 protons; 6 neutrons; 6 electrons
• Carbon forms covalent bonds and acts as the
central atom from which the molecule
branches 
3. Describe how carbon skeletons may vary, and
explain how this variation contributes to the
diversity and complexity of organic molecules.
• Carbon skeletons vary in:
1. Length
2. Shape (straight, branched, ring)
3. Number and location of double bonds
4. Other elements covalently bonded
Many different molecules can form
4. Distinguish among 3 types of isomers:
structural, geometric, & enantiomers.
Structural Isomers
• Isomers that differ in the covalent
arrangement of their atoms
number of possible isomers increases as
carbons increase
location of double bonds differ 
4. Continued…
Geometric Isomers
• Share same covalent partnerships, but
differ in their spatial arrangement
• Double bonds don’t allow free movement
• Can affect biological diversity 
4. Continued…
Enantiomers
• Molecules are mirror images of each
other
• Usually one form is biologically active
and one is not 
5. Recognize the 6 major functional groups,
and describe the chemical properties of
organic molecules in which they occur.
1. Hydroxyl Group
 a functional group that consists of a
hydrogen atom bonded to an oxygen atom,
which in turn is bonded to a carbon
 it is polar & water soluble
 organic compounds with these are
alcohols
C – OH 
5. Continued…
2. Carbonyl Group
functional group with a carbon atom
double bonded to oxygen
 polar & water soluble
 is the group found in SUGARS
• if at the end of the skeleton – aldehyde
• if in the middle of the skeleton – ketone
5. Continued…
3. Carboxyl group
 functional group that has a carbon atom which
is both double bonded to an oxygen and single
bonded to an oxygen of a hydroxyl (-OH) group
 water soluble
VERY polar due to 2 oxygens bonded to 1 carbon
 has acidic properties; “carboxylic acids”
-COOH

5. Continued…
4. Amino Group
 functional group consists of nitrogen
atom bonded to 2 hydrogens and to the
carbon skeleton
 polar & water soluble
 acts as a weak base
-NH2

5. Continued…
5. Sulfhydryl Group
 functional group with an atom of
sulfur bonded to an atom of
hydrogen
 helps stabilize the structure of
proteins
 when in organic compoundscalled ‘thiols’ 
5. Continued…
6. Phosphate Group
functional group which is the dissociated
form of phosphoric acid
 acid properties
 polar & water soluble
 important in cellular energy storage &
transfer
H3PO4
