Properties of Carbon Homework

1.  Oxygen and sulfur have similar chemical properties because both elements have six electrons in their outermost electron shells.  
     Indeed, both oxygen and sulfur form molecules with two hydrogen atoms: water and hydrogen sulfide. Surprisingly, water is a liquid, 
     yet hydrogen sulfide is a gas, even though sulfur is much larger and heavier than oxygen. Propose an explanation for this striking 
     difference.

2.  In agricultural areas, farmers pay close attention to the weather forecast.   Right before a predicted overnight freeze, farmers spray water on 
     crops to protect the plants.   Use the properties of water to explain how this works.   Be sure to mention why hydrogen bonds are responsible 
     for this phenomenon.

3.         Carbon is a very important element in living systems.

             a.  Describe some various characteristics and/or properties of the carbon atom that makes possible
                   the building of a variety of biological molecules.

             b.  The following structures are examples of two different categories of biological compounds.  Identify the compound
                   classification as specifically as possible AND describe how each category of compounds is important to the 
                   structure and function of living systems.

Category I	Category II