1. Carbon Compounds
Key Concept: What are the functions of each group of organic compounds?

2. The Chemistry of Carbon
Remember the energy shells
Carbon has a full first energy shell (2 electrons) and a second energy shell with only 4 electrons (this shell “wants” 8 total electrons), so carbon has 4 VALENCE electrons.

3. Carbon cont…

4. Carbon cont…
This is the reason that carbon can form strong covalent bonds with many other atoms (including H, Ph, O, S, and N)
Most importantly carbon can form chains with other carbon atoms

5. Macromolecules “giant molecules”
Formed by a process called polymerization, where small units called monomers are joined together to form polymers

6. Four groups of organic compounds
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleic acids
proteins

7. Make a table like this one in your notes (make it somewhat large)
Name of polymer
Made up of monomers of
Examples
Functions

8. Table: Polymer: Carbohydrates
Monomers: C, H, O in a 1:2:1 ratio, many monosaccharides join to make polysaccharides
Examples: Glucose (C6H12O6)
Functions: Broken down for immediate energy, or stored as starches for later use. This is the “fuel” for life.

9. Carbohydrates (Sugars)

10. Table: Polymer: Lipids (fats)
Monomers: C and H atoms, fatty acids and glycerol
Examples: fats, oils
Functions: storage of energy, waterproof membranes

11. Table: Polymer: Nucleic Acids
Monomers: Nucleotides (5 carbon sugar, nitrogen base, phosphate)
Examples: DNA, RNA
Functions: Carry genetic information, method of inheritance, blueprint for life

12. Table: Polymer: Proteins Monomers: N, C, H, and O, Amino acids
Examples: prions, hormones, many others
Functions: control the rates of reactions, regulate cellular processes, form bones and muscle, transport materials, help fight disease, and many other things
How important are proteins? Let’s do some research and find out what happens when proteins are formed incorrectly!

14. Creative writing assignment!
We require a steady input of compounds in order to supply our bodies with the building blocks of the macromolecules we just covered. This is why we need food. Imagine you are lost in the wilderness, explain where you are, how you got there and what you are doing to survive. Would you do something like THIS to stay alive?