ORGANIC CHEMISTRYCarbon: the element of life

Important Terms to Know• Organic molecule: anything containing carbon• Carbon is an essential molecule in all living things• Can make up to 4 bonds with other atoms- versatile

• Monomer: a single unit

• Polymer: a structure made of many single units, or monomers

• Example: a beaded necklace• The beads are all monomers• The necklace, put together, is a polymer.

Carbohydrates• Carbohydrate monomers are called monosaccharides

• Monomer examples• Glucose (C6H1206)

• Galactose (C6H1206)

• Fructose (C6H1206)

• General Structure of the monomer- a ring

Carbohydrates• Functions• Provide short term energy to an organism• Provides structure to cell walls (cellulose)

• Polymers

Name of polymer Function

Cellulose Structure for plant cell walls

Starch Energy storage for plants, in vacuole

Glycogen Energy storage in animals, in liver and muscles

Carbohydrates

Fun Facts• The human body can not digest cellulose!• Anyone want to provide evidence for this?

Lipids• Lipids are also known as fats• Monomers are made of (there are no polymers):

1. A glycerol2. At least one fatty acid tail• Examples of lipids are: monoglyceride, triglyceride,

saturated fat, unsaturated fat

• General Structure

Lipids• Functions• Provide long term energy

to an organism• Provides structure of cell

membranes (phospholipids)• Insulation

• Saturated vs. Unsaturated fats• Saturated fats have

hydrogens at every possible spot (solids)

• Unsaturated fats have at

least one double bond (liquids)

Lipids

Fun Facts

Proteins• Protein monomers are called amino acids

• Monomer examples- there are 20 different amino acids• Valine, tryptophan, serine

• General Structure of the monomer-

Proteins• Functions (just a few- there are MANY!)• Make up muscle• Make reactions happen

faster (catalyst)- ENZYMES• Make antibodies to help

you fight infections- ANTIBODIES

• Polymers look like this:• they are HUGE and very

complex

Nucleic Acids• Nucleic acid monomers are called nucleotides

• Monomers (nucleotides) are made up of 1. Nitrogenous base (A, T, C, G- or U in RNA) 2. Phosphate group 3. 5 carbon sugar (either deoxyribose-DNA or ribose-RNA)

• General Structure of the monomer-

Nucleic Acids• Functions• Code of life• Central dogma of biology: DNA RNA Protein - - Traits

• Polymers

Name of polymer Function

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Permanent code for all traits

RNA (ribonucleic acid) Disposable copy of genes- code for a protein

Nucleic Acids• DNA- double helix

• RNA- single stranded

Foods?• What foods that you eat contain each of these 4 organic molecules?• Carbohydrates?

• Lipids?

• Proteins?

• Nucleic Acids?