Carbon molecules and Functional groups

Unit I: Biochemistry (CH. 4) Hydrocarbons Carbon is the basic element of organic compounds. -Carbon has 4 valence electrons and likes to share electrons with other atoms (including itself) to make four stable covalent bonds. -Most common partners are hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. -Hydrocarbons are a group which have only carbon and hydrogen. These are what we use as fuel because of the huge amount of energy stored in these bonds. Living organisms can not use pure hydrocarbons but many biological compounds, especially fatty acids, have long carbon-hydrogen chains with other groups attached. -Hydrocarbons are non-polar and are not water soluble (called hydrophobic). Aliphatic Compounds (chain type or non-aromatic rings) Alkanes