Chapter 4 Notes
BIOL 1020 ? CHAPTER 4 LECTURE NOTES Chapter 4: Carbon and the molecular diversity of life Organic Compounds Organic compounds: any compound of carbon and another element or radical Inorganic: any compound that does not contain carbon. Carbon skeletons: the skeletal formula of an organic compound is a shorthand representation of its molecular structure Wide diversity in organic compounds Carbon has diverse bonding patterns. Carbon atomic structure How many valence electrons in a carbon atom? 4 How many covalent bonds can a carbon atom maximum form? 4 Bonding patterns Valence = 4 electrons Different molecular shape: chains, branches, ring, etc. Length difference. Hydrocarbons ? organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen e.g. propane