Carbon Macromolecules
• Carbon forms covalent bonds with up to four
other atoms, including other carbon atoms.
• Carbon-based molecules have three general
types of structures.
– straight chain
– branched chain
– ring
• Many carbon-based molecules are made of
many small subunits bonded together.
– Monomers are the individual subunits.
– Polymers are made of many monomers.
AKA: Hydrocarbons
Alkanes
C
C
H
H
H
H
H
C
C
C
C
C
H
H
H
H
H
C
C
H
Alkynes
Alkenes
H
H
C
C
H
H
H
C
C
C
C
C
H
H
H
H
H
Aromatics
H
H
C
C
H
H
H
C
C
C
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
C
C
C
C
H
C
C
H
H
Hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl
• There are other names that describe patterns of
atoms that are parts of functional groups:
• “Hydroxyl” refers to –OH
• “Carbonyl” refers to C=O
• “Carboxyl” refers to COOH
Q: Which functional groups contain a hydroxyl group?
A carbonyl group? A carboxyl group?
Hydroxyl: alcohols, carboxylic acids.
Carbonyl: aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, amides,
esters.
Carboxyl: carboxylic acids
*Note that properties such as boiling and melting point change
due to functional groups
Carbohydrates
•Function: To be broken down as a source of
chemical energy; also a part of cell structure.
•Example: sugars, starches, cellulose
*Simple sugars (glucose) = monosaccharides
*Starches and cellulose = polysaccharides
Importance of polysaccarides:
• Plants store glucose in the form of polysaccharides
known as starch in their roots
• Animals store glucose in the from of a
polysaccharide known as glycogen in our liver and
muscle cells
• The chains sticking out of the proteins in the cell
membrane are polysaccharides know as cell
markers
• Cellulose is the most abundant organic
molecule on earth.
– Gives trees and plants structure and strength
– We need cellulose (fiber) to keep our digestive
tracts clean and healthy
• Polysaccharides are used in the shell of
crustaceans like crabs and lobsters (Chitin)
http://rasamalaysia.com/uploaded_images/black_pepper_crab/stone_crab1.jpg
http://chemistry2.csudh.edu/rpendarvis/1feb23.gif
http://kentsimmons.uwinnip
eg.ca/cm1504/Image70.gif
Glucose can be
linear or ring
structure!
Sucrose = glucose +
fructose
Carbs +/- Water
• Dehydration Synthesis vs. Hydrolysis
Taking out water to
make some thing new.
Water breaks down a
complex molecule
into a simple
molecule.
Lipids
• Function: To be broken down as a source of chemical
energy; makes cell membranes
• Example: fats, oils, cholesterol
*Lipids are nonpolar/hydrophobic!
*Most membrane lipids (phospolipids) are amphipathic,
having a non-polar end and a polar end.
Fatty acids – Chains of carbon atoms
bonded to hydrogen atoms
(carboxylic acids)
Various Fatty Acids:
Saturated fats (usually from animals)
•
•
•
•
single carbon bonds
Strong attractions between chains
High melting points
Solids at room temperature
Unsaturated fats (usually from plants)
•
•
•
•
at least 1 carbon double bond
Few interactions between chains
Low melting points
Liquids at room temperature
http://twistedphysics.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c9c1053ef0133ecf8b451970b-pi
Your Body Needs Lipids!
=Tryglyceride
Properties of Lipids
Hydrogenation
• Unsaturated compounds react with H2
• Ni or Pt catalyst
• C=C bonds
C–C bonds
Hydrolysis
• Split by water and acid or enzyme catalyst
• Produce glycerol and 3 fatty acids
15
Proteins
• Function: Many functions- including
movement, transport, chemical catalysts
• Example: enzymes, meats, nuts
Protein- Polymer made of monomers called
amino acids.
http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG/ecb/ecb_images/04_02_polypeptide_backbone.jpg
Nucleic Acids
• Function: To store genetic information and
build proteins (just ONE function!)
• Example: DNA and RNA
Nucleic acids- Polymers that are made up of
monomers called nucleotides.
http://wiki.chemeddl.org/images/c/c8/Chapter_20_page_27-2.jpg
http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/fold
ing/education/dna.gif