5.1 Organic or Inorganic?

Carbon is the basic component in all living things.

Study Guide

Explain each concept

è Organic compounds are covalent compounds composed of carbon-based molecules.

è Biochemicals are organic compounds made by living things.

è Each carbon atom forms four bonds.

è Carbon atoms bond with other elements to form straight or branched chains, or rings.

è Hydrocarbons are organic compounds composed of only carbon and hydrogen.

è Many sugars are aromatic hydrocarbons based on the six-carbon ring of benzene.

è In a saturated hydrocarbon, each carbon atom shares a bond with four other atoms.

è In an unsaturated hydrocarbon, two or more carbons share double or triple bonds.

è Other organic compounds, including alkyl halides, alcohols, organic acids, and esters, are formed by adding atoms of other elements.