2. Chapter 4: Carbon

3. Why study Carbon? All of life is built on carbon C HNOPS Cells ~72% H 2 O ~25% carbon compounds carbohydrates lipids proteins nucleic acids ~3% salts Na, Cl, K…

4. Carbon: The Backbone of Life Carbon cycle is responsible for moving carbon from the biosphere into living organisms and back again

5. Learning Target I can explain how molecules and atoms from the environment are necessary to build new molecules. I can explain how carbon is used to build carbohydrates, proteins, lipids or nucleic acids.

6. Properties of Carbon 4 valence electrons Forms up to 4 covalent bonds Can be single, double, or triple

7. CHNOPS

8. Carbon Variations It likes to bond with itself, unlike most atoms Thus it can form large molecules These molecules can be chains, branches, or ring-shaped

9. Diversity of Organic Molecules Substitute other atoms or groups around the carbon ethane vs. ethanol H replaced by an hydroxyl group (–OH) nonpolar vs. polar gas vs. liquid biological effects! ethane (C 2 H 6 ) ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH)

10. Hydrocarbons Combinations of C & H only non-polar not soluble in H 2 O Hydrophobic Can undergo reactions that release a relatively large amount of energy

11. Crash Course: That’s Why Carbon is a Tramp