The Nature of Matter
Carbon Compounds (Sec. 2-3)
Chemical Reactions and Enzymes (Sec.
2-4)
What is organic chemistry?
 Organic chemistry is the study of all
compounds that contain bonds between
carbon atoms
 Carbon compounds are also called organic
compounds.
What are macromolecules?
 The prefix “macro” means “large”.
 Many of the molecules in living things are so
large that they are called macromolecules.
How are macromolecules
formed?
 Macromolecules are formed in a process
called polymerization
 “Poly” means “many”.
 Monomers are smaller units that join
together to form polymers, which are
macromolecules.
The four organic compounds
 There are four groups of organic
compounds found in living things:
– Lipids
– Carbohydrates( a.k.a. carbs, or carbos)
– Proteins
– Nucleic acids
Lipids
 Made mostly from carbon and hydrogen
atoms (C, H) and some O.
 Used in living things to store energy.
 Some are important parts of biological
membranes and water-proof coverings.
 Others are used to send chemical
messages (ex. Steroids).
 Made up of compounds called fatty acids
(C-H chain) and glycerol (contains O)
 Examples: Fats, oils, waxes, steroids
Carbohydrates
 Made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
atoms (C, H, O)
 Hydrogen and carbon will be in a 2:1 ratio
 Used by cells as the main source of energy.
 Plants and some animals use carbohydrates
in structures.
 Examples: Starches and sugars, such as
glucose (C6H12O6) and cellulose (in plant
cell walls)
Proteins
 Contain nitrogen as well as carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen (C,H,O,N)
 Are polymers of amino acids (a.k.a. “the
building blocks of proteins”).
 Some control the rate of reactions and regulate
cell processes (Enzymes are proteins).
 Some are used to form bone and muscles.
 Some transport substances into or out of cells
or help fight diseases.
Nucleic Acids
 Contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
and may have either or both of phosphorus
or sulphur (C,H,O, N, P, S)
 Made up of monomers of nucleotides.
 A nucleotide is made up of a sugar, a
phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base:
Nucleic Acids
 Store and transmit hereditary, or genetic,
information.
 Two kinds of nucleic acids:
– RNA (ribonucleic acid)
– DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
Carbohydrate, Lipid, or Protein?
Carbohydrate
Protein
Lipid
Lipid
Protein
Carbohydrate
Remember CHONPS
 CH- Lipids contain a fatty acid chain made
of carbon and hydrogen atoms .
 CHO- Carbohydrates are made up of
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
 CHON- Proteins also contain nitrogen.
 CHONPS- Nucleic acids will contain
C, H, O, N, and either/or both
of phosphorus and sulfur.
Chemical Reactions
 A chemical reaction is a process that
changes one set of chemicals (reactants)
into another set of chemicals (products).
A+B
C+D
Reactants yield Products
Chemical Reactions
 Always involve the breaking of bonds in
reactants and the formation of new bonds in
products.
 Some reactions release energy, others
absorb energy.
 Every reaction needs energy to get started.
 The starting energy is called the activation
energy.
Catalyst
 A substance that speeds up the rate of a
chemical reaction.
 Work by lowering the activation energy.
 Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts.
Acids and Bases
 pH is a measurement of Hydrogen ion (H+)
in a solution.
 Acids = High H+ low OH Bases = Low H+ High OH-
pH Scale




The scale goes from 1 to 14.
1-6 are acidic
7 is neutral
8-14 are basic
pH
 Bloods pH is about 7.35-7.45. So is our
blood basic or acidic?
pH Scale
 Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid.
 Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base.
 Water (H2O) is neutral.
 The pH of body fluids is 7.35, 7.45. If the
pH is altered below or above the norm it
will disrupt the stability of cell
membranes, alter protein structure, and
change the activities of important
enzymes.
 Below 7.35-acidosis
 Above 7.45-alkalosis
 Affects the nervous system and
cardiovascular system.