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Building Blocks of Life
Chemistry of Carbon Building Blocks of Life Lynn English High School Science Biology/Ms. Mezzetti Modified version from Explore Biology.com
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All of life is built on carbon Cells
Why study Carbon? All of life is built on carbon Cells ~72% H2O ~25% carbon compounds carbohydrates lipids proteins nucleic acids ~3% salts Na, Cl, K… Why do we study carbon -- is it the most abundant element in living organisms? H & O most abundant C is the next most abundant
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Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds
Chemistry of Life Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds C atoms are versatile building blocks Can form 4 bonds with itself or other elements Can form single, double or triple bonds Carbon chemistry = organic chemistry Why is it a foundational atom? What makes it so important? Can’t be a good building block if you only form 1 or 2 bonds. H C H H H
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Complex molecules assembled like TinkerToys
Like sugars: C6H12O6 But can be arranged in different ways -glucose -galactose -dextrose
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Combinations of C & H non-polar stable
Hydrocarbons Combinations of C & H non-polar not soluble in H2O hydrophobic stable very little attraction between molecules a gas at room temperature methane (simplest HC)
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Hydrocarbons can grow
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Isomers Molecules with same molecular formula but different structures (shapes) different chemical properties different biological functions Same formula but different structurally & therefore different functionally. Molecular shape determines biological properties. Ex. Isomers may be ineffective as medicines 6 carbons 6 carbons 6 carbons
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Thalidomide Form affects function
prescribed to pregnant women in 50s & 60s reduced morning sickness, but… stereoisomer caused severe birth defects
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Parts of organic molecules that are involved in chemical reactions
Functional groups Parts of organic molecules that are involved in chemical reactions give organic molecules distinctive properties hydroxyl amino carbonyl sulfhydryl carboxyl phosphate Affect reactivity makes hydrocarbons hydrophilic increase solubility in water
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Building Blocks of Life
Macromolecules Building Blocks of Life
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Smaller organic molecules join together to form larger molecules
Macromolecules Smaller organic molecules join together to form larger molecules macromolecules 4 major classes of macromolecules: carbohydrates lipids proteins nucleic acids
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Dehydration synthesis Removes water to build larger molecules
Polymers Long molecules built by linking repeating building blocks in a chain monomers building blocks repeated small units covalent bonds H2O HO H • great variety of polymers can be built from a small set of monomers • monomers can be connected in many combinations like the 26 letters in the alphabet can be used to create a great diversity of words • each cell has millions of different macromolecules Dehydration synthesis Removes water to build larger molecules
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Synthesis How to build a polymer joins monomers by “taking” H2O out
one monomer donates OH– other monomer donates H+ together these form H2O requires energy & enzymes H2O HO H enzyme Dehydration synthesis Condensation reaction
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How to break down a polymer
Digestion use H2O to breakdown polymers reverse of dehydration synthesis cleave off one monomer at a time H2O is split into H+ and OH– H+ & OH– attach to ends requires enzymes releases energy H2O HO H enzyme Most macromolecules are polymers • build: condensation (dehydration) reaction • breakdown: hydrolysis An immense variety of polymers can be built from a small set of monomers Adds water to breakdown polymers Hydrolysis Digestion
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Organic compounds contain _________?
Review Organic compounds contain _________? Carbon is unique because Name the 4 major macromolecules What is a monomer? What is a polymer? How do polymers form? How do macromolecules digest (break)?
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