Summary of 5.1

Carbon Skeletons and Functional Groups

• Carbon has only 4 electrons in it s highest occupied energy level.



• Carbon's energy level is so high that it can hold 8 electrons, which allows it to form 4 bonds.



• Carbon can form bonds with other carbon atoms, producing a variety of skeletons.

• Carbon-based molecules are called Organic Molecules.



• Non-carbon-based molecules are called inorganic molecules.



• Molecules composed of carbon and hydrogen are known as Hydrocarbons.



• Small moleculer units are called Monomers.



• Linked monomers are form chains called Polymers.



• 4 main catagories of life large molecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and mucleic acids.

Building and Breaking Polymers

• When a monomer is added to a chain, a water molecule is released. This process is called dehydration reaction.



• Cells break bonds between monomers by adding water. This reaction is called a hydrolysis reaction.

Concept Check

1.)Draw a molecule that has a three carbon skeleton and a hydroxyl group on the middle carbon.

2.)Explain the connection between monomers and polymers.

Polymers are chains linked by monomers

3.)What molecule is released during construction of a polymer? What is this reaction called?

Water is lost each time a monomer is added; this reaction is called a dehydration reaction.

4.)Draw at least three ways in which five carbon atoms could be joined to make different carbon skeletons.