Topic 61: Fatty acids and derivatives

61.1What is the actual definitiion of lipid? What sort of lipids do biologist typically mean when they refer to a lipid?
 
61.2What is a fatty acid?
 
61.3What Is the distinction among staturated, monosaturated, and polysaturated fatty acids? And why is that important?
 
61.4What is a wax? Why would a wax be so good at surface such as a painted car or a piece of furnature?
 
61.5What is a triacylglycerol? What two terms to chefs use when referring to triacylglycerols?
 
61.6What is a phospholipid? What important role do phospholipids play in virtually all biological systems?
 
61.7What is an eicosanoid? (What does eicosa mean in chemical nomenclature?)
 
61.8What is a prostaglandin? What critical role do prostaglandins play in the human body?
 

Topic 62: Terpenes and steroids

62.1What is a terpene?
 
62.2Why are terpenes typically multiples of five carbons?
 
62.3What major industries are based on isolating, mixing or reacting terpenes?
 
62.4What is a steroid? What role in the human body do steroids play?
 
12 questions
472 questions for Organic II

472 Questions for Organic II

Dearest Student. This web page is a set of questions I call Detailed Intended Learning Outcomes For Organic Chemistry (Part II). Some time ago I asked myself, "Bob, what do you think are the key questions that you hope students will be able to answer after taking Chemistry 248 at St. Olaf College?" So here you have them. Some are very simple; some require more thought. All are good questions to be thinking about as you read, discuss, and master the practical aspects of organic chemistry. They are discussion starters and review tips. There are no answers here (though there are some clues). The questions are here to help you focus on what's important (to me, at least!) and organize your learning process. The questions are grouped into topics. Bite-size chunks. Take them a few at a time. Don't feast on them all at one sitting!

(preliminary version 2021.01.15 feeback: Bob Hanson)