Welcome to the community Morbesety,
Carbon is one of the most common elements in living systems. Aside from water, most biologically important molecules are carbon-based. The structural and functional diversity of organic molecules emerges from the
ability of carbon to form large complex and diverse molecules by bonding to itself and to other elements such as H, O, N, S and P.
The carbon atom:
1. Atomic number of 6; therefore it has 4 valence electrons.
2. Completes its outer energy shell by sharing valence electrons in four covalent bonds.
3. Not likely to form ionic bonds.
Emergent properties, such as the kinds and number of bonds carbon will form, is determined
by its electron configuration.
1. It makes large complex molecules possible. The carbon atom is a central point from which the molecule branches off into four directions.
2. It gives carbon covalent compatibility with a great number of different elements. The four major atomic components of organic molecules are:
a. Hydrogen; valence of 1
b. Oxygen; valence of 2
c. Nitrogen; valence of 3
d. Carbon; valence of 4
3. It determines an organic molecule's 3-dimensional shape, which may affect molecular function.
a. For example, when carbon forms four single covalent bonds, the four valence orbitals
hybridize into teardrop-shaped orbitals that angle from the carbon atom towards the
corners of an imaginary tetrahedron.
Here's a review sheet prepared already [view attachment].
Thank you so much!.. just transferred here from Yahoo answers
. You have been an amazing help. i ma currently in high school taking AP Biology and have a test on Monday on everything from functional group to fats to proteins to the metabolism. and honestly I'm having a little trouble getting ready.
Quick Reply
