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Organic Compounds
- Organic compounds are compounds containing carbon. Organic chemistry is the study of carbon containing compounds.
- Hydrocarbons consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms bonded together and are hydrophobic.
- Isomers have the same molecular formulas but differ in their structures. Three types of isomers are structural isomers, geometric isomers and enantiomers.
- Groups of atoms that are particularly important in determining a molecules behavior and form are called functional groups.
- Carbohydrates are sugars and can be categorized as monosaccharides, disaccharides or polysaccharides. Carbohydrates are a vital source of energy for cells.
- Lipids are a diverse group of hydrophobic molecules. Lipids include fats, oils, phospholipids and steroids as well as waxes.
- Fats can be divided into the categories saturated and unsaturated are based on the composition of the hydrocarbon portion of the fatty acids. Saturated fats contain only single bonds between the carbon molecules.
- Cell membranes are made up of phospholipids. Phospholipids are composed of two fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule that has phosphate group attached.
- Steroids are lipids containing a carbon skeleton of four fused rings. This fused ring structure is called cholesterol and is the building block for other steroids. Many hormones are steroids.
Organic Compounds
Lecture Slides are screen-captured images of important points in the lecture. Students can download and print out these lecture slide images to do practice problems as well as take notes while watching the lecture.
- Intro
- Organic Compounds
- Isomers
- Functional Groups
- Examples: Functional Groups
- Amino Group
- Carboxyl Group
- Hydroxyl Group
- Methyl Group
- Carbonyl Group
- Phosphate Group
- Carbohydrates
- Carbohydrates, cont.
- Lipids
- Phospholipids
- Steroids
- Example 1: Isomers
- Example 2: Functional Groups
- Example 3: Galactose, Ketose, and Aldehyde Sugar
- Example 4: Class of Molecules

































1 answer
Fri Apr 8, 2011 1:27 AM
Post by Billy Jay on April 7, 2011
Hi Dr. Eaton,
Just thought I'd clarify something in the video. At 11:30 - "D" and "L" (both capital letters) are relative configurations used to describe sugars and amino acids. All mammals (humans included) have D-Sugars, and L-aminoacids. This is different though from the typical convention given for a pair of enantiomers. For a pair of enantiomers, one molecule rotates light clockwise ("d" for dextrorotatory) and the other clock-wise ("l" for levorotatory). Both however, are lower-case letters.
1 answer
Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:10 AM
Post by Jay Patel on June 19, 2011
Dr. Eaton,
At 24:00 on the fructose molecule, you circled the carbonyl group as a ketone. I didn't see the hydrogen single bonded to the harbon.
Does the H have to be there for it to be a carbonyl group?
2 answers
Thu Mar 1, 2012 2:24 PM
Post by JUAN PABLO SALINAS OLVERA on June 23, 2011
Dr. Eaton,
During the carbonyl explanation, the carbonyl carbon has 5 bonds. Just though I would pint it out.
Thanks.
1 answer
Fri Jan 18, 2013 6:06 PM
Post by Linh La on January 9 at 01:08:50 AM
Dr. Eaton,
I have 2 questions.
1. You mentioned that hydrophobic substances will pass through the membrane easier because of the nonpolar central region in the phospolids. Could you explain why polar substances will pass through easier? Is it because it doesn't get dissolved in water?
2. I am a little confused on the terms dehydration and condensation. Glycosidic linkages are formed by the dehydration of 2 hydroxyl groups but you also used the word condensation which means water is being produced. Does it mean that on the reactant side is the dehydration part because it loses water and on the product sides is the condensation because water is being produced?