Chapter 3

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

Discover why carbon is the backbone of life. Learn functional groups and molecular diversity essential for understanding biochemistry.

4 Hours

Olympiad 4/5

Foundational

Exam Relevance

NEETRequired

MCATRequired

AP BiologyRequired

IB BiologyRequired

Olympiad Scores

USABO

4/5

BBO

4/5

INBO

4/5

IBO

4/5

Key Topics Covered

Carbon atom versatility

Hydrocarbons and functional groups

Isomers - structural, geometric, enantiomers

ATP and organic molecules

Macromolecule building

Learning Objectives

Explain carbon bonding versatility

Identify major functional groups in biology

Distinguish between types of isomers

Understand molecular diversity importance

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is carbon central to biology?

Carbon can form 4 covalent bonds, creating diverse molecular structures. This versatility enables the complexity of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.

Which functional groups are most important for NEET?

Hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), amino (-NH2), phosphate (-PO4), and carbonyl (C=O) groups are essential for understanding biomolecules in NEET.

Previous Chapter

The Chemical Context of Life

Next Chapter

Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

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