Physical Science Notes
Chapter 13 - Organic and Biological Compounds
|
13-1: Simple Organic Compounds - Carbon is an element with a structure that enables it to form a large number of compounds, known as organic compounds. - Saturated hydrocarbons contain only single bonds between carbon atoms, and unsaturated hydrocarbons contain double or triple bonds. - Isomers of organic compounds have identical formulas but different molecular shapes. - A hydrocarbon is made up of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. - Examples of saturated hydrocarbons: propane, methane. 13-2: Other Organic Compounds - Aromatic compounds, many of which have odors, contain the benzene ring structure. - A substituted hydrocarbon contains one or more atoms of other elements that have replaced hydrogen atoms. - An alcohol is formed when OH groups replace one or more hydrogen atoms in a hydrocarbon. 13-3: Growing Energy on the Farm - Biomass is the source of biogas and gasohol, two fuels that can be used to increase our energy supply. - Ethanol and gasohol are useful as substitutes for gasoline, but their production may damage the environment. 13-4: Biological Compounds - Many important biological compounds are polymers – huge organic molecules made of many smaller units, or monomers. - Proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids are major groups of biological compounds. - Proteins are made of amino acids. They are used for growth and repair in your body. - Nucleic acids are polymers that control the activities and reproduction of cells. - Carbohydrates have twice as many hydrogen atoms as oxygen atoms. They include starches and sugars. - Lipids include fats and oils. Cholesterol is a lipid used to build cell membranes. It’s also used in pheromones (chemicals to attract organisms of the opposite sex.) |