Basic Organic Chemistry Questions...?

Question

Hi :) I just finished reading over the section assigned in my textbook, and I'm a little confused about a few certain things:
What are the functional groups of organic compounds and what makes them different (hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, phosphate, methyl)?
Also, what are the difference between the four levels of structure of proteins (primary, secondary, tertiary, quarternary)?
These are just basic questions I have, because I honestly don't understand what I'm reading....
Thanks in advance :)

Answer 1

Why don't I 'show you'?



I have a (free) youtube tutorial video that explains and details the functional groups you've mentioned above



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4lIp0Z1mVg

Answer 2

Functional groups are areas of reactivity for an organic molecule. A methyl group is essentially inert, but a hydroxyl or carboxyl group offers the chance to abstract a proton, to give an anion which can further react. An amino group is basic. A phosphate group is often associated with things like RNA and DNA, and can also be an energy source. It also imparts water solubility on an organic molecule. For instance, adenosine triphosphate is an important energy source for cells.



For proteins, a primary structure is simply a string of amino acids. In secondary, the string of amino acids starts to associate into structures, like coils and beta sheets. When the secondary structure folds into an organized three dimensional structure, that is known as a tertiary structure, and it normally has biological activity. The tertiary structure is held together through hydrogen bonds and other intramolecular bonds. Those structures are normally called proteins.



However, some proteins are not biologically active until they assemble into multi-protein structures. Those are quaternary structures. For instance, hemoglobin is a quaternary structure.

Answer 3

1. Functional groups include -OH, >C=O, -COOH, -NH2, -P(O)(OH)3. They are the "handles on the molecules that reactants grab onto.



You have to learn the functional groups and all the reactions that they have.



Listen to the lecturer. (S)he is trying to tell you something.



The primary structure of proteins is the sequence of amino acids.

Answer 4

It could exist as both conformers because a methyl group is still relatively small. But strictly speaking, the heavier substituent (in this case, the methyl group) is more stable in the equatorial position