BIOL 1001 Chapter : BIOL 1001 Chapter 3
Document Summary
Carbon permeates the world of life- from the energy-requiring activities and structural organization of cells, to physical and chemical conditions that span the globe and influence ecosystems it"s everywhere. Outer shell of carbon has 4 electrons. Each carbon atom can form covalent bonds with up to 4 atoms. Organic molecule = c + h: only made by living things. Use of fossil fuels releases co2 into atmosphere. Hydrogen and other elements (listed below) covalently bonded to carbon: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids. Carbon atoms can form chains or rings. Other atoms project from the carbon backbone. Atoms or clusters of atoms that are covalently bonded to carbon backbone. Organic molecules in all living orgs share two similarities: use same functional groups, formed by the modular approach, stick subunits together like cars in train. Enzymes remove oh from one molecule, h from another, form bond between two molecules. Discarded atoms can join together to form water.
