ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
All living things contain the element Carbon (C).
Carbon is unique because ……………
1.
it has 4 valence electrons
2.
it can form single, double & triple
covalent bonds with other elements
3.
it can form chains or rings
Macromolecules are “giant molecules”
formed by many smaller molecules.
Small molecules that join to make larger
molecules are called “monomers.”
Monomers join together to form
“polymers.”
This process is called “Polymerization.”
There are 4 major macromolecule
groups found in living things:
* Carbohydrates
* Lipids
* Proteins
* Nucleic Acids
Carbohydrates: Used as the main
source of energy by all living things.
-Contain the elements C, H and O in a
1:2:1 ratio (CHO)
_ Broken down as sugar for cells to
carry out cellular activities (i.e.
cellular respiration, photosynthesis)
_ Monomers or building blocks are called
monosaccharides (simple sugars).
Glucose, galactose and fructose are all
examples of a monosaccharide.
When 3 or more monosaccharides
combine, they form what is known as a
Polysaccharide (complex sugars).
“Poly” means many.
Examples of polysaccharides: bread,
rice, pasta, potatoes.
Most animals store excess sugar as
glycogen to be used when needed by
muscles (contraction) or low blood sugar.
Plants store excess sugar as starch.
Cellulose is another important
polysaccharide found in plants which
gives plants rigidity and flexibility.
Lipids (fats, waxes, oils, steroids):
Used to store energy
-Also contain elements C, H & O but
not in a 1:2:1 ratio. (CHO)
-Insoluble as they do not dissolve
in water.
- Building blocks are a glycerol
molecule combined with fatty acid
tails making long chains.
2 types of lipids: Saturated & Unsaturated
Carbon to carbon
double bond
Some lipids are important parts of
biological membranes (phospholipids
contain hydrophilic heads and
hydrophobic tails) and waterproof
coverings such as the plasma
membrane of the cell and the cuticle of
plants.
Proteins: Used to form bones and
muscles, transport substances into or
out of cells, help fight diseases, control
rate of chemical reactions and regulate
cell processes.
-Contain elements C, H, O & Nitrogen
(CHON)
-Monomers or building blocks are called
amino acids.
The general structure of an amino
acid is an amino group (-NH2) on one
end and a carboxyl group (-COOH) on
the other end.
The portion of
each amino acid
that is different is
the side chain
called The R
Group.
Different Types of Amino Acids:
Food Examples of Proteins:
Nucleic Acids: transmit or store
genetic or hereditary information.
-Contain elements, C, H, O, N and
Phosphorus (CHONP)
2 types: DNA and RNA
Monomers or building blocks are
called Nucleotides.
A Nucleotide contains a 5 carbon sugar,
a phosphate group and a nitrogen base.
2 Types of Nucleic Acid: DNA or RNA
Double stranded
Genetic code
Single stranded
Copies genetic
code