BIOL 1201 Chapter : Biol 1201 Chapter 4
Document Summary
Exceptions: co, co2, and all carbon molecules (i. e. diamonds, graphite, coal) >>>>>>>>aside from water, most biologically related molecules contain carbon. Carbon atoms are the most versatile building blocks of molecules (see fig 4. 4) Variations in the carbon skeleton can contribute to the diversity of organic molecules (see fig 4. 5). **carbon structural features length branching double bond position presence of rings. --isomers molecules which contain the same atoms but have those atoms arranged in a different pattern. --structural isomers molecules which contain same atoms but have different shape because atoms are arranged differently. Cis-trans isomer: atoms move to opposite sides. (cis-same side) (trans-opposite sides) --geometric isomers molecules which contain same atoms but the groups around a double bond are arranged differently. --enantiomers isomers that are mirror images of one another. The resulting mirror image compounds may have different biological activities (see fig 4. 8). (right handed vs left handed) same with enantiomers. Functional groups contribute to the molecular diversity of life.
