Special Topic Alkanes as Biomolecules

Methane may also have been essential to the formation of life. The early atmosphere on Earth was relatively rich in methane and ammonia (as are the current atmospheres of most of the outer planets). Given an energy source such as ultraviolet 

This chapter covers again the concept of Lewis acids and bases. The familiar Bronsted bases compete for a proton, but Lewis bases are far more versatile. A Lewis base is defined as anything with a reactive pair of electrons, and a Lewis acid is anything that reacts with a Lewis base. We are paid back for these very general definitions with an ability to see as similar all manner of seemingly different reactions. These concepts will run through the entire book. 

NMR spectrum (p. 88) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (p. 88) primary carbon (p. 76) propyl group (p. 73) 

The coding or drawing procedures can get quite abstract. It is vital to be able to keep in mind the real, three-dimensional structures of molecules even as you write them in two-dimen- 

The naming convention for alkanes is introduced. There are several common or trivial names that are often used and which, therefore, must be learned. 

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