Basic Chem Knowledge
The main element used in organic molecules is carbon because of its four valence electrons, it can bond with four other atoms, resulting in generally more complex molecules. Carbon atoms are also famous for making strong bonds with other carbon atoms to form rings and long chains; this is good because complexity is key in living things.
Water is a very important molecule; it is regarded as the universal solvent because of its ability to break apart ionic bonds. Ionic compounds are composed of charged particles that transfer electrons to one another, and water, with its polarity, can break these bonds.
Water molecules have a bent shape of an angle of 105 degrees. This is because of the two lone pairs of electrons found on the oxygen.
A molecule is polar whenever the electrons are distributed unevenly throughout a molecule. This has to do with electronegativity, or the tendency of electrons to be found around an atom. In the water molecule, oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen; therefore, the oxygen side of the molecule has a negative charge and the other side has a positive charge. This causes charged particles to be attracted to the charged ends of the water molecule and causes them to break apart.
above: structure of a water molecule and hydrogen bonding.
A hydrogen bond, or an H-bond, is when a hydrogen from one water molecule is attracted to the oxygen of another molecule. They are not as strong as covalent bonds, but they are essential. For example, the two strands of DNA are held together by hydrogen bonds.
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Introduction to Biochemistry
- Basic chem knowledge
- The cell
- Basic biochem terms
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