Biochemistry
Aim: Why are organic and inorganic
molecules important to living things?
I. Importance of Nutrients
A. In order for each life process to occur, the
body must possess 4 essential building
blocks:
1. Carbohydrates
2. Lipids (fats)
3. Proteins
4. Nucleic Acids (DNA & RNA)****
I. Importance of Nutrients
B.Three of the four important nutrients are
found in our daily diet:
1. Carbohydrates
2. Lipids
3. Proteins
I. Importance of Nutrients
C. These nutrients are broken down to their
simplest form or building blocks so that
organisms can get:
1. Energy
2. Repair tissue
3. Synthesize
4. New tissue
5. Maintain homeostasis
II. Organic vs. Inorganic
A. Every chemical compound is either
organic or inorganic….
What’s the difference???
II. Organic vs. Inorganic
B. Inorganic compounds are compounds
that do not contain both carbon and
hydrogen.
Example:
•H2O *VERY IMPORTANT
•CO2
II. Organic vs. Inorganic
C. Organic Compounds are compounds that
contain both carbon and hydrogen.
Examples:
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids

II. Organic vs. Inorganic
D. Each of the 4 essential molecules contain
both the elements carbon (C) and
hydrogen (H) in their structure.




H = Hydrogen
C = Carbon
O = Oxygen
N = Nitrogen
III. Carbohydrates
A. Main source of energy (starches and
sugars).
B. Structural component of cells.
C. Names of most sugars end in –ose.

Example: glucose, lactose
D. Usually contains 2 times as many H atoms
as O atoms.
Example: C6H12O6  glucose
E. Monosaccharides
1. One molecule of carbohydrate
2. Building blocks of carbohydrates also
called simple sugars.
a. Glucose  sweets, candy, cookies
b. Fructose  fruits
c. Glucose, galactose, fructose all have
same chemical formula, however are
structurally different.
E. Monosaccharides
Glucose
Galactose
Fructose
Structural Formula
F. Disaccharides
1. Disaccharides:
a. Two simple sugars (monosaccharides)
combine by dehydration synthesis.
b. Most common disaccharides have the
molecular formula: C12H22O11: Maltose
G. Polysaccharides
1. Three or more molecules of
carbohydrates (complex
carbohydrates).
2. Polysaccharides are long chains of
monosaccharides.
H. Examples of Polysaccharides
1. Starch: stored excess plant sugar
2. Glycogen: stored excess animal sugar

Found in the liver of humans
3. Cellulose: found in cell walls
4. Chitin: exoskeleton
I. Dehydration Synthesis
1. Process of removing water molecules to
form a disaccharide or polysaccharides
from monosaccharides.

Example: Maltose
C6H12O6 + C6H12O6  C12H22O11 + H2O
Reactants
Products
J. Hydrolysis
1. Addition of water to breakdown complex
molecules.
2. Exampledisaccharide to
monosaccharide.
3. Opposite of dehydration synthesis.
IV. Lipids
A. Stored and used as an energy reserve.
B. Cushions and prevents heat loss.
C. Important in the structure of the cell
membrane.
Fats (solid at room temperature).
Oils (liquids at room temperature).
IV. Lipids
D. Contain C, H and O.
E. Less O than in carbohydrates. H and O
not in a 2:1 ratio.
F. Stored lipids that are needed for energy
are broken down by hydrolysis.
IV. Synthesis of Lipids
G. Formed by the dehydration synthesis of
3 fatty acids and 1 glycerol (kind of
alcohol).
3 fatty acids + 1 glycerol  lipid + 3 H2O
(long chain of C
and H with 1
carboxyl group).
(alcohol)
(water)
+ 3 H2 O
V. Proteins
A. Contain C, H, O and N. Some contain S
(sulfur).
B. Used for the growth and repair of cells
C. Building blocks are called amino acids.

20 different kinds.
D. Structure of Amino Acids
Amino
Group
Variable group
(side chain)
Central
Carbon
Carboxyl
Group
E. 20 Amino Acids
What is the difference
between Alanine and Valine?
The Alanine has CH3 and Valine has 2
CH 3 and a CH coming off of it.
What is the difference Tryptophan
and Lysine?
Tryptophan has a ring structure, 3
CH2 and a NH coming off of it and
Lysine has 3 CH2 and a NH3
coming off of it.
F. Where are proteins found??
1. Hemoglobin: carries oxygen
2. Skin pigments: melanin
3. Hormones
4. Antibodies
5. Enzymes
6. Hair/nails
7. Cell membrane
G. Peptides
1. The bond between 2 amino acids is
called a peptide bond.
2. Dipeptide: 2 amino acids combined by
the dehydration synthesis.
Peptide
Bond
Dipeptide Structure
H. Polypeptides
1. Chains of amino acids.
2. Proteins are composed of 1 or more
polypeptide chains coiled or folded in a
specific way.
VI. pH scale
A. Measure of how acidic a substance is.
acidic
neutral
basic
0
7
14
B. Litmus paper  indicates an acid or a
base.