Organic Chemistry – Carbon Chemistry and Macromolecules


 * See also Biochemistry


 * Carbon Chemistry
 * Organic chemistry is the study of all compounds that contain bonds between Carbon atoms.
 * Four major elements that are found in biological organic compounds are:
 * Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulfur, and Phosphorus

Carbon

 * Lewis Dot Structure and the Structual Formula for a carbon atom

How many bonds can carbon make with other atoms? FOUR

Importance of Carbon
Carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms are known as Hydrocarbons, an example is Methane.
 * 1) Carbon can make 4 covalent bonds with other atoms. This makes it flexible; it can bond with many elements.
 * 2) A carbon atom can bond with another carbon atom to create long carbon chains/carbon ring structures.

Macromolecules

 * What is a macromolecule?
 * A giant molecule made from 100 to 1,000 of smaller molecules.


 * What are macromolecules made up of?
 * Monomers


 * What is polymerization?
 * When monomer ions join together to form polymers


 * What is dehydration synthesis?
 * When a water molecule is removed to join 2 monomers together.


 * What is hydrolysis?
 * When a water molecule is split to break bonds between monomers.

Four major macromolecules

 * What are the four major macromolecules in living things?

Carbohydrates

 * What is a carbohydrate?
 * Compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. These are usually combined in a ratio of 1, 2, 1.


 * Why are they important in living things?
 * Short-Term Energy Use and carbohydrates serve as a structure in organisms... EX: Chitin in exoskeleton of athropods.


 * What are monomers for carbohydrates known as?
 * Monosaccharides


 * What are the three monosaccharides for carbohydrates?


 * Monosaccharides bond together to form chains of polysaccharides.
 * EX: Glycogen1, Cellulose2, Chitin3

How much energy is in 1 gram of carbohydrates? 4 CALORIES

Lipids

 * What are lipids?
 * Macromolecules that are generally not soluble in water. They are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.


 * What makes up a lipid monomer?
 * Glycerol and Fatty Acid Chains

Importance of Lipids

 * 1) Long-term energy storage
 * 2) Protection/Insulation
 * 3) Membrane Structure
 * 4) Acting as a chemical messenger


 * Lipid Polymers
 * Fats - Come from animals and is solid at room temperature.
 * Oils - Come from plants and stays liquid at room temperature.
 * Waxes - Come from bees.

Satured and Unsaturated Fatty Acids
1. What is a saturated fatty acid?
 * When there are only single bonds between all carbon atoms in the fatty acid chains of a lipid.

2. What is an unsaturated fatty acid?
 * When there are double and triple bonds between carbon atoms in a fatty acid chain.

How much energy in 1 gram of lipid? 9 CALORIES

Nucleic Acids

 * Nucleic acids are macromolecules that contain the following elements
 * 1) Carbon
 * 2) Hydrogen
 * 3) Oxygen
 * 4) Nitrogen
 * 5) Phosphorus
 * The monomers for nucleic acids are called...
 * Nucleotides
 * Three components of a nucleic acid nucleotide are
 * 1) Phosphate group
 * 2) 5-carbon sugar
 * 3) Nitrogenous Base
 * Nucleotides will bond together to form...
 * Nucleic Acids
 * The main function of nucleic acids is to...
 * Store and transmit genetic information
 * Two kinds of nucleic acids are
 * 1) DNA
 * RNA

Proteins

 * Proteins are macromolecules that contain the following elements:
 * 1) Carbon
 * 2) Hydrogen
 * 3) Oxygen
 * 4) Nitrogen
 * The monomers for proteins are called amino acids.
 * The general structure of an amino acid is:
 * All amino acids have an amino group and a carboxyl group


 * The R group distinguishes one amino acid from another


 * There are a total of 20 amino acids


 * Amino acids are bonded together through peptide bonds to form protein--or polypeptide chains.

Organizations
Proteins are joined together in up to four different levels of organization.

Primary

 * Polypeptide chain of amino acids.

Secondary

 * Polypeptide chain can twist (helix) or fold (sheets) due to weak bonds between amino acids.

Tertiary

 * Polypeptide chain as whole twists and folds.

Quaternary

 * Multiple chains are arranged into a complex protein (2-4 polypeptide chains grouped together).

Functions

 * 1) Structural components in cells
 * 2) Regulate cell processes and chemical reactions
 * 3) Transport substances across the cell membrane
 * 4) Act as receptors to certain compounds