1. 1 Carbon! Why it’s cool, and what it can do

2. 2 ORGANIC = FROM A LIVING SOURCE, OR CONTAINING CARBON The fact that Carbon needs 4 electrons to complete its valence shell means it has 4 “connection spots” It can also do neat things like: –form long chains or rings –form especially strong & stable bonds (covalent) –Can be the “anchor piece” for very large molecules

3. 3 Carbon Ring Carbon Chains

4. 4 Monomers & Polymers: when carbons get together Monomer : small, simple molecule (beads) Polymer: larger, more complex molecules made from monomers strung together. (necklace) monomer + monomer + monomer = Polymer

5. 5 Very large polymers made from Carbon- based chains are called MACROMOLECULES “Macro” = giant (so, “giant molecule”)

6. 6 How do monomers come together to form a polymer? Dehydration Synthesis: This is a chemical reaction where two monomers join together and release water. Dehydration synthesis is a “building up” or anabolic reaction.

7. 7 How do polymers break down into monomers? Hydrolysis: This is a chemical reaction in which water is added and splits a polymer back into monomers. Hydrolysis is a “breaking down” or catabolic reaction. Dehydration Synthesis-Hydrolysis

8. 8 MACROMOLECULES come in different varieties 4 important groups: –Carbohydrates –Proteins –Lipids –Nucleic Acids

9. 9 What type of macromolecule is shown here?

10. 10 Carbohydrates Monomer = monosaccharide –Ex: glucose, sucrose, fructose Function: energy, structure, fuel storage, strength Example: Sugar, cellulose Polysaccharide (crunchy part of plants), starch (plant energy storage), glycogen (animal muscle energy)

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12. 12 What type is shown here? (Okay, there a few “hints”.)

13. 13 Proteins Monomer = amino acid Function – Structure (bones, muscles, etc.) –Fight disease –Control rates of reaction –Transport substances in & out of the cell Example: Insulin, hormones (chemical messengers)

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15. 15 What type of macromolecule is shown here?

16. 16 Lipids Monomer: fatty acids on a “glycerol backbone” Function: –Chemical messengers (steroids) –Insulation and cushioning –Compact, long-lasting energy source –Make up cell membrane Examples: –Triglycerides (fats) –Phospholipids (cell membrane fats) –Wax –Oils –Steroids

17. 17 Saturated fats have only single bonds in their fatty acid “tail”. Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds in their fatty acid tail.

18. 18 Can you identify this type of macromolecule?

19. 19 Nucleic Acids Monomer = nucleotide Function: –Store & transmit Hereditary information –Direct growth & development –Use to construct proteins (RNA) Examples: DNA and RNA