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. Until the late
1800s it was thought that organic molecules could only be made by a living
organism, but with the laboratory synthesis of urea, the field of organic
chemistry began. 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. (25-1)
Define organic molecules and organic chemistry, distinguishing between natural and synthetic molecules. (25-2)
Differentiate between saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. (25-4)
Identify the source of complexity and diversity in organic molecules as the existence of isomers, structural, geometric and optical. (25-4)
Identify the following functional groups by the characteristic atom groups: alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, esters and amines. (p. 861)
Explain the energy source and storage methods used in biochemical reactions. (27-1)
Describe the chemical composition and functions of carbohydrates. (27-2)
Describe the chemical composition and functions of lipids. (27-3)
Describe the chemical composition and functions of proteins. (27-4)
Identify different types of vitamins and their metabolic functions. (27-4)
Describe the chemical composition and functions of nucleic acids. (27-5)
Observe and use different chemical tests to identify an unknown biological molecule. (Lab exercise)
LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
To learn about objectives 1-4:
WATCH the video on “Carbon”.
READ Ch. 25, pp. 805-831 (especially sections 1, 2 & 4)
WRITE answers to Q: 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 16, 17, 23 on pp. 834-835.
CARRY OUT Lab exercise on “Complexity and Connectivity in Organic Chemistry.”
To learn about objective 5:
READ Ch. 26, pp. 841-845, 849-859
STUDY chart on p. 861 in order to recognize functional groups and the class of compounds that contain them.
WRITE answers to questions: 2-8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 19, 23-25 on pp. 864-865 AND questions: 8 & 23 on pp. 898-899.
To learn about objectives 6-12:
READ Chapter 27 pp. 867-891
CARRY OUT lab activity “Reactions of Organic Molecules' Functional Groups.”
WRITE UP lab activity above.
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: 1, 3-17, 19-21, 23, 24, 26, 27 on pp. 894-895 AND questions: 9, 11, 14, 20-22 on pp. 898-899.
To make sure you understand the objectives for this unit:
ASK me, the teacher, any lingering QUESTIONS
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.
“Identifying Bio-molecules Using Chemistry” lab write-up due .
Unit 9 Test Friday, May 24th. Homework for objectives 6-12 due.
