Carbon

Carbon is the base of all molecules in living things. Organic Chemistry is the study of carbon compounds, like the simplest carbon compound, a hydrocarbon. It contains one carbon and four hydrogen molecules, since carbon has four spaces for bonding. Know gas? Its a huge, complicated hydrocarbon. Also, energy from fat comes from hydrocarbons, so they are obviously important. Plus, to add to the confusion, each organic molecule has its own 3-D shape, which determines the function.