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Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
Key Concepts and Answers
What two elements does an organic molecule have?
ANSWER: Carbon and Hydrogen
What is the element of life?
ANSWER: Carbon
How many valence electrons does Carbon have?
ANSWER: 4
How many covalent bonds can Carbon form?
ANSWER: 4
What are the four classes of macromolecules?
ANSWER: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids
What is the special combination of atoms that are attached to the Carbon backbone and are
involved in reactions between molecules?
ANSWER: Functional groups
What are the five functional groups?
ANSWER: Hydroxyl, Carbonyl, Carboxyl, Amino, Phosphate
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What are molecules that have the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of atoms?
ANSWER: Isomers
What is the large unit that monomers make up? ANSWER: Polymers
What is the process where two or more monomers combine to form a polymer that releases a
water molecule? ANSWER: Dehydration Synthesis
What is the process where a polymer is broken down into two or more monomers that uses a
water molecule? ANSWER: Hydrolysis
What are the two functions of Carbohydrates?
ANSWER: Ready energy and structural materials
What three elements do carbs contain? (Element name not symbol)
ANSWER: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
What is the ratio of H:O in Carbs? ANSWER: 2:1
What is the structure of a Carb? ANSWER: Carbon ring
What is the monomer of a Carb? ANSWER: Monosaccharide
What is the function/purpose of a monosaccharide? ANSWER: Store energy
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
Key Concepts and Answers
What two elements does an organic molecule have?
ANSWER: Carbon and Hydrogen
What is the element of life?
ANSWER: Carbon
How many valence electrons does Carbon have?
ANSWER: 4
How many covalent bonds can Carbon form?
ANSWER: 4
What are the four classes of macromolecules?
ANSWER: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids
What is the special combination of atoms that are attached to the Carbon backbone and are
involved in reactions between molecules?
ANSWER: Functional groups
What are the five functional groups?
ANSWER: Hydroxyl, Carbonyl, Carboxyl, Amino, Phosphate
, 2|Page
What are molecules that have the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of atoms?
ANSWER: Isomers
What is the large unit that monomers make up? ANSWER: Polymers
What is the process where two or more monomers combine to form a polymer that releases a
water molecule? ANSWER: Dehydration Synthesis
What is the process where a polymer is broken down into two or more monomers that uses a
water molecule? ANSWER: Hydrolysis
What are the two functions of Carbohydrates?
ANSWER: Ready energy and structural materials
What three elements do carbs contain? (Element name not symbol)
ANSWER: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
What is the ratio of H:O in Carbs? ANSWER: 2:1
What is the structure of a Carb? ANSWER: Carbon ring
What is the monomer of a Carb? ANSWER: Monosaccharide
What is the function/purpose of a monosaccharide? ANSWER: Store energy
