INTRODUCTION: Organic Chemistry is a major branch of chemistry. In particular it is the study of carbon chemistry. The element carbon has many unique properties. For one it is not very abundant on the earth. It is, however, very significant for earth’s living residents. All life forms on earth are made of molecules, which contain carbon. Carbon chains provide the backbone of most of the matter in living things. Because carbon can bond to itself strongly as well as to other non-metals it can form a tremendous number of diverse and complex molecules. These molecules provide just the kind of diversity and complexity, which is necessary for living things. There are easily several million organic molecules, which have been made by living things or by chemists, and because of the vast number of these compounds these molecules provide the foundation for the complexity of life. In the chemistry of organic molecules certain common groups atoms attached to the main chain exhibit special and characteristic chemistry. These special groups of atoms are called functional groups. Large groups of organic compounds are classified according to these functional groups. We will learn about the functional groups, which are particularly significant in the molecules of living organisms. We will observe these functional groups in four significant classes of biological molecules carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and DNA. This unit is intended as a final chapter in the study of Chemistry so that you the student will be aware of the integration of Chemistry into life itself.
OBJECTIVES:
As you study this unit, you should be able to do the following:
Explain carbon’s unique bonding properties. (22.1)
Differentiate between saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. (22.2)
Identify the source of complexity and diversity in organic molecules as the existence of isomers, structural, geometric and optical. (22.3)
Differentiate between various cyclic hydrocarbons, “cyclo-“ versus aromatic hydrocarbons, and be able to interpret the molecular, structural and line formulas of these. (22.4)
Identify the following classes of organic compounds by the characteristic functional groups: alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, esters, amines and amides. (Table 23.1, p. 726)
Identify some basic properties of the following classes of compounds: alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, esters, amines and amides. These properties would include water solubility, boiling points and whether the molecules can hydrogen bond or not. (23.2-3)
Describe the chemical composition and functions of carbohydrates. (24.2)
Describe the chemical composition and functions of lipids. (24.4)
Describe the chemical composition and functions of proteins. (24.3)
Describe the chemical composition and functions of nucleic acids. (24.5)
Discuss in a short answer or essay format the interrelated functions of carbohydrates and proteins, lipids and proteins, and proteins and nucleic acids.
Articulate what it means to say that polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids can all be called “biopolymers.” (23.4)
LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
To learn about objectives 1-4:
WATCH the video on “Carbon”.
READ Ch. 22, pp. 693-711 (especially sections 1 - 4)
WRITE answers to Q: 37, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48 on p. 719
CARRY OUT Lab exercise on “Building Isomers.”
To learn about objectives 5 & 6:
READ Ch. 23, pp. 725-726, 730-743.
STUDY chart on p. 726 in order to recognize functional groups and the class of compounds that contain them.
To learn about objectives 7-12:
READ Chapter 24 pp. 763-785.
WATCH "World of Chemistry Video: Protein Structure and Function and DNA."
WRITE answers to questions based on the "World of Chemistry" video.
WRITE answers to the questions: 38, 41, 43, 44, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 58-65,on p. 793.
To make sure you understand the objectives for this unit:
ASK me, the teacher, any lingering QUESTIONS
PRACTICE the unit’s vocabulary using the “Word Map” exercise.
TAKE the Unit’s Self-Test
Summary of Due Dates:
Quiz on objectives 1-5. Associated homework due.
“Connectivity of Atoms in Organic Molecules” lab sheets
due one week after performed.
