Summary of Concept 5.1

Concept 5.1

Notes

• Carbon forms bonds with other carbon atoms to form carbon skeletons.
• Organic molecules are carbon based molecules.
• Inorganic molecules are molecules that do not have carbon in them.
• Functional groups are molecules that react in a predictable way with other atoms.
• Examples of function groups include hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, and amino.
• Hydroxyl is hydrophilic.
• Small molecules are building blocks called monomers.
• Polymers are large molecules made from long chains of monomers.
• Water is released when a monomer is added to a polymer chain.
• Water is required when a monomer is removed from a polymer chain.

Concept Check

1. Draw a molecule that has a three-carbon skeleton and a hydroxyl group on the middle carbon. (Hint: The molecule formula is C3H8O)

2. Explain the connection between monomers and polymers.

Monomers are the molecules that act as the building blocks of polymers, bonding into long chains in order to create complex polymers.

3. What molecule is released during construction of a polymer? What is this reaction called?

The molecule of water (H2O) is released in the construction of a polymer. This reaction is called a hydrolysis reaction.

4. Draw at least three ways in which five carbon atoms could be joined to make different carbon skeletons.