Campbell Biology Chapter 4 Carbon – Flashcards

Organic chemistry is a science based on the study of A) functional groups. B) vital forces interacting with matter. C) carbon compounds. D) water and its interaction with other kinds of molecules. E) inorganic compounds.

The experimental approach taken in current biological investigations presumes that A) simple organic compounds can be synthesized in the laboratory from inorganic precursors, but complex organic compounds like carbohydrates and proteins can only be synthesized by living organisms. B) a life force ultimately controls the activities of living organisms and this life force cannot be studied by physical or chemical methods. C) although a life force, or vitalism, exists in living organisms, this life force cannot be studied by physical or chemical methods. D) living organisms are composed of the same elements present in nonliving things, plus a few special trace elements found only in living organisms or their products. E) living organisms can be understood in terms of the same physical and chemical laws that can be used to explain all natural phenomena.

How many electron pairs does carbon share in order to complete its valence shell? A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4 E) 8 Answer: D

A carbon atom is most likely to form what kind of bond(s) with other atoms? A) ionic B) hydrogen C) covalent D) A and B only E) A, B, and C

Which of the following statements best describes the carbon atoms present in all organic molecules? A) They were incorporated into organic molecules by plants. B) They were processed into sugars through photosynthesis. C) They are ultimately derived from carbon dioxide. D) Only A and C are correct. E) A, B, and C are correct.

Why are hydrocarbons insoluble in water? A) The majority of their bonds are polar covalent carbon-to-hydrogen linkages. B) The majority of their bonds are nonpolar covalent carbon-to-hydrogen linkages. C) They are hydrophilic. D) They exhibit considerable molecular complexity and diversity. E) They are lighter than water.

Which of the following statements correctly describes geometric isomers? A) They have variations in arrangement around a double bond. B) They have an asymmetric carbon that makes them mirror images. C) They have the same chemical properties. D) They have different molecular formulas. E) Their atoms and bonds are arranged in different sequences.

Research indicates that Ibuprofen, a drug used to relieve inflammation and pain, is a mixture of two enantiomers; that is, molecules that A) have identical three-dimensional shapes. B) are mirror images of one another. C) lack an asymmetric carbon. D) differ in the location of their double bonds. E) differ in their electrical charge.

Research indicates that Albuterol, a drug used to relax bronchial muscles, improving airflow and thus offering relief from asthma, consists only of one enantiomer, the R-form. Why is it important for this drug to consist of only one enantiomeric form, rather than a mixture of enantiomers? A) Different enantiomers may have different or opposite physiological effects. B) It is impossible to synthesize mixtures of enantiomers. C) It is much less expensive to synthesize one enantiomer at a time. D) Albuterol is an example of a compound for which only one enantiomer exists. E) Only the R-form of Albuterol has been studied; until more information is available, physicians prefer to use the pure R-form.

A compound contains hydroxyl groups as its predominant functional group. Which of the following statements is true concerning this compound? A) It lacks an asymmetric carbon, and it is probably a fat or lipid. B) It should dissolve in water. C) It should dissolve in a nonpolar solvent. D) It wonʹt form hydrogen bonds with water. E) It is hydrophobic

Which is the best description of a carbonyl group? A) an oxygen joined to a carbon by a single covalent bond B) a nitrogen and two hydrogens joined to a carbon by covalent bonds C) a carbon joined to two hydrogens by single covalent bonds D) a sulfur and a hydrogen joined to a carbon by covalent bonds E) a carbon atom joined to an oxygen by a double covalent bond

Which of the following contains nitrogen in addition to carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen? A) an alcohol such as ethanol B) a monosaccharide such as glucose C) a steroid such as testosterone D) an amino acid such as glycine E) a hydrocarbon such as benzene

Which of the following is a false statement concerning amino groups? A) They are basic in pH. B) They are found in amino acids. C) They contain nitrogen. D) They are nonpolar. E) They are components of urea.

Which two functional groups are always found in amino acids? A) ketone and aldehyde B) carbonyl and carboxyl C) carboxyl and amino D) phosphate and sulfhydryl E) hydroxyl and aldehyde

) Amino acids are acids because they always possess which functional group? A) amino B) carbonyl C) carboxyl D) sulfhydryl E) aldehyde

A carbon skeleton is covalently bonded to both an amino group and a carboxyl group. When placed in water it A) would function only as an acid because of the carboxyl group. B) would function only as a base because of the amino group. C) would function as neither an acid nor a base. D) would function as both an acid and a base. E) is impossible to determine how it would function.

A chemist wishes to make an organic molecule less acidic. Which of the following functional groups should be added to the molecule in order to do so? A) carboxyl B) sulfhydryl C) hydroxyl D) amino E) phosphate

Which functional groups can act as acids? A) amine and sulfhydryl B) carbonyl and carboxyl C) carboxyl and phosphate D) hydroxyl and aldehyde E) ketone and amino

Which is a functional group that helps stabilize proteins by forming covalent cross-links within or between protein molecules?

Which molecule functions to transfer energy between organic molecules?

Testosterone and estradiol are A) nucleic acids. B) carbohydrates. C) proteins. D) phospholipids. E) steroids.

Testosterone and estradiol are male and female sex hormones, respectively, in many vertebrates. In what way(s) do these molecules differ from each other? A) Testosterone and estradiol are structural isomers but have the same molecular formula. B) Testosterone and estradiol are geometric isomers but have the same molecular formula. C) Testosterone and estradiol have different functional groups attached to the same carbon skeleton. D) Testosterone and estradiol have distinctly different chemical structures, with one including four fused rings of carbon atoms, while the other has three rings. E) Testosterone and estradiol are enantiomers of the same organic molecule.

Which of the following hydrocarbons has a double bond in its carbon skeleton? A) C3H8 B) C2H6 C) CH4 D) C2H4 E) C2H2

Which action could produce a carbonyl group? A) the replacement of the OH of a carboxyl group with hydrogen B) the addition of a thiol to a hydroxyl C) the addition of a hydroxyl to a phosphate D) the replacement of the nitrogen of an amine with oxygen E) the addition of a sulfhydryl to a carboxyl

Which chemical group is most likely to be responsible for an organic molecule behaving as a base? A) hydroxyl B) carbonyl C) carboxyl D) amino E) phosphate

Which of the following is a false statement concerning amino groups? A) They are basic in pH. B) They are found in amino acids. C) They contain nitrogen. D) They are nonpolar. E) They are components of urea.