Elements in Living Things Notes Organic Chemistry Elements in Living Things Notes

Carbon Atoms and Bonding All living things = carbon Carbon wants 4 electrons to be stable. Can make many combinations Some molecules contain 1000’s of carbon atoms. More than 90% of all known chemical substances contain carbon.. C

Carbon Bonding Carbon can form straight chains, branched chains, and rings.

Diamonds – pure carbon Carbon’s pure forms exist as diamonds, graphite, fullerenes, and nanotubes. Diamonds form at really high temperatures and pressures. Diamonds are extremely strong and nonreactive

Graphite – pure carbon Graphite is carbon bonded to 3 other carbon atoms in flat layers. Graphite is the ‘lead’ in your pencils.

Fullerenes – pure carbon 1985, scientists made a new form of carbon called fullerenes. Carbon atoms in the shape of a hollow sphere. Also called ‘buckyballs’. Connecting pentagons similar to a soccer ball.

Nanotubes – pure carbon In 1991, another form of carbon was made. Nanotubes are carbon atoms arranged in the shape of a long, hollow cylinder. Only a few nanometers wide. Tiny, light, flexible, extremely strong, and good conductors of electricity and heat. Nanotubes can make extremely strong cables.

Hydrocarbons The simplest organic compounds are hydrocarbons – contains only hydrogen and carbon. Examples: methane, propane, ethane, and butane Properties: all flammable, and mostly used as fuels for stoves, heaters, cars, buses, and airplanes.

Formula for methane and ethane – all single bonds Structural Formulas Structural formulas show the kind, number and arrangement of atoms in a molecule. -ane endings = saturated, all bonding sites filled with hydrogen atoms Ex: ethane -ene or –yne is unsaturated. Ex: Ethene Structural of ethene – notice double bond

Polymers Polymers are very large molecules made of a chain of many smaller molecules called ‘monomers’ bonded together. Ex of polymers: DNA, cotton, silk, plastic, polyester, nylon,etc…