Carbon Chemistry
Properties of Carbon a.Carbon is the element found in all living things. b.Because carbon has 4 valence electrons, it can gain, lose or share electrons. Carbon can combine with itself and other elements in many ways. c.It can form straight chains, branched chains and ring patterns.
Carbon Compounds a.Carbon compounds include gases (propane), liquids (olive oil), and solids (cotton). More than 90% of all known compounds contain carbon. b.Organic compounds contain carbon. Organic means “of living things”. c.Hydrocarbons are made from hydrogen (H) and carbon (C). Methane (CH 4 ), propane (C 3 H 8 ), and butane (C 4 H 10 ) are all hydrocarbons. d.Polymers are very large molecules made of a chain of many smaller molecules called monomers. monomer – monomer– monomer – monomer – monomer = polymer e. Organic polymers are made from living things like cotton and silk. f. Synthetic polymers are made in factories like polyester, nylon, or plastic.
Life with Carbon The 4 large carbon compounds (polymers) that all living things have. a.Carbohydrates b.Proteins c.Lipids d.Nucleic acids
Carbohydrates a.Monomers: simple sugars b.Polymers: starches that are in rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread (they are complex carbohydrates) c.Have the elements c arbon, h ydrogen, and o xygen d.Carbohydrates are a source of energy that the body used. Large molecule that has carbon
Proteins a.Monomers: amino acids b.Polymer: protein c.Proteins build an repair body parts. Large molecule that has carbon
Nucleic Acids Monomer: nucleotide (sugar, phosphate, and nitrogen base) Polymer: DNA or RNA The order of the nucleotides determines the differences between living things. Large molecule that has carbon
Lipids a.Fats (solid at room temp) and oils (liquid at room temp) are lipids b.Stores 2 x more energy than carbohydrates. Large molecule that has carbon
Small Molecules that do not have carbon But are essential to life Water Vitamins Minerals salts
6 elements that life needs: Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Phosphorus Sulfur C.H.O.N.P.S.