Carbon in Life and
Materials
6
C
Carbon
12.011
Organic Compounds
Organic Compounds:




Contain carbon-hydrogen
bonds
Often contain N, S, P
Major types:
carbohydrates, proteins,
lipids, and nucleic acids.
Are not just living things
but can also be made in
a lab…example: sugar
www.organicsbydesign.com
www.hermann-uwe.de
Inorganic Compounds

Inorganic Compounds:




Substances that do not
have carbon-hydrogen
bonds
Not normally found in
living things
Examples minerals,
metals, and salts
universoulproductions.wordpress.com
Exceptions to the rule:
(all inorganic)

Diamonds (C), graphite
(C), carbon dioxide (CO2)
www.ndt-ed.org
Carbon forms many different
compounds


Large variety of compounds results from the
number of bonds that each carbon atom can
form
Carbon atoms always share four pairs of
electrons in four covalent bonds



Single bond
Double bond
Triple bond
Carbon-based molecules can
have many structures
nafaa.pbwiki.com

Chains
 Carbon atoms can
bond together to form
chains that are straight
or branched

Rings
 Carbon rings contain
at least 5 carbon
atoms
www.green-planet-solar-energy.com
Isomers


Isomer: compounds
that contain the same
atoms, but in different
places
Both have 4 Carbons
and 10 Hydrogens


Butane
Isobutane
cornellbiochem.wikispaces.com
Carbon-based molecules are
life’s building blocks
www.rbge.org.uk

Carbon-based
molecules have many
functions in living things

Similarities


All contain carbon
and hydrogen or
oxygen, nitrogen,
sulfur, phosphorus.
Large molecules
www.ucmp.berkeley.edu
Life’s Carbon-based molecules




Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic acids
mrscraigsbiology.blogspot.com
Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate: contain carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen…examples: sugars, starches,
and cellulose.



Sugar: glucose C6H12O6
 Cells in both plants and animals break down
glucose for energy
Starch: many glucose molecules
 When starch is broken down many glucose
molecules are broken down and used for
energy
Cellulose: plant cell walls
 Carbohydrate that is composed of glucose
Lipids

Lipid: fats and oils that are used for energy and as
structural materials in living things




Fat…saturated and unsaturated



Made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Structure different from carbohydrates
Animals store chemical energy in fat
Saturated: all the bonds in the lipid are single, most animal
fats…too much saturated fat could lead to heart disease
Unsaturated: one or more bonds in lipid are double
Cholesterol


lipid that is part of cell membranes
Makes hormones (chemical messengers in your body)
Proteins

Proteins: macromolecules (large) that are
made up of amino acids


Contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
sulfur, and other elements
Many different functions



Function based on order of amino acids
20 different amino acids make up the proteins in your
body
Function is based on structure
Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids: huge, complex carbon-based
molecules that contain information that cells
use to make proteins


Made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and
phosphorus
Each cell in your body contains a complete set of
nucleic acids…so each cell has all of the
instructions it needs to make the proteins your
body needs
DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid
…nucleic acid that
contains the genetic code


Sides of ladder made of
sugar and phosphate
Rungs (steps) are made
up of cytosine (C),
guanine (G), adenine (A),
Thymine (T).
 C and G always pair
 A and T always pair
eapbiofield.wikispaces.com
Carbon-based molecules
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic
Acids
Sugars
Include
Function
DNA
depends on
order of
amino acids
Structure,
transport,
immune
system,
enzymes
Carries
and
starches
fats and
Energy for cells oils
Energy
Plant cell walls
for cells
Cell
membran
es
genetic code
Sequence
of three DNA
bases is the
code for an
amino acid
Carbon Cycle
eo.ucar.edu
Carbon-based molecules
in many materials

Hydrocarbon: a compound made of
hydrogen and carbon


Found in large deposits (petroleum)
Polymers



Very large carbon-based molecules made of
smaller repeating units (monomers)
Formation by chemical reactions that bond
monomers together
Plastics (polypropylene)…capable of being
molded or shaped…plastics can be recycled