Carbon Compounds

Chemistry of Carbon Is carbon that interesting? YES!!!! WHY?? ALL organic molecules contain carbon!!! Carbon atoms have 4 valence electrons, which can join with another electron from another atom to make a strong covalent bond Carbon can bond with many elements including O, H, P, S and N Carbon can bond to other carbon atoms, which gives carbon the ability to form chains that are almost unlimited in length Carbon can form millions of different large and complex structures, no other element even comes close to being able to do that!!!!!

Macromolecules Living cells that are very large are called macromolecules which means “giant molecule” Formed by a process known as polymerization (large compounds are built by joining smaller ones) The smaller units or monomers, join together to form polymers The monomers may be identical (like links in a watch) or different( like a multi-stranded necklace)

Macromolecules Since it would be difficult to study the millions of macromolecules and monomers that make life, they are classified into four groups Carbohydrates Lipids Nucleic acids Proteins

Carbohydrates Compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, usually in a ratio of 1:2:1 Living things use carbohydrates as their main source of energy; plants and some animals use them for structural purposes Carbohydrates break down into__________

Carbs cont…. Single sugar molecules are called monosaccharides Glucose, galactose which is found in milk and fructose which is found in______ When monosaccharides are joined together they form a large marcomolecules known as polysaccharides. Glycogen: released in your body when your glucose runs low to help supply energy for movement Living things store extra sugar as a starch Animals use a starch called glycogen Plants use a starch called plant starch Plant also make a polysaccharide called cellulose

Lipids Lipids are a group of macromolecules that are generally not soluble in water Made mostly from carbon and hydrogen Most common categories are: fats, oils and waxes Lipids can be used to store energy Some lipids are important parts of biological membranes and waterproof coverings Steroids fall in the category of lipids as well because they serve as chemical messengers

Lipids are formed when a glycerol molecule combines with fatty acids, normally three What it looks like:

Nucleic Acids Macromolecules containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus N.A are polymers assembled from individual monomers known as nucleotides Nucleotides consist of three parts: A 5-carbon sugar A phosphate group A nitrogenous base

Nucleic Acids…continued There are two types of nucleic acids: Ribonucleic acid (RNA) which contains the sugar ribose Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which contains the sugar deoxyriboseNucleic Acids store and transmit hereditary or genetic information

Proteins Macromolecules that contain nitrogen as well as carbon, hydrogen and oxygen Proteins are polymers of molecules called amino acids Amino acids are compounds with an amino group on one end and a carboxyl group on the other end More than 20 amino acids can be found in nature

Functions Some proteins control the rate of reactions and regulate cell process, these proteins are called enzymes Enzymes are composed of amino acids Some are used to form bones and muscles Some transport substances into or out of cells or help fight disease