CARBON COMPOUNDS

The chemistry of Carbon

The chemistry of carbon is very important to living things

Carbon has 4 electrons available for bonding

Can form 4 covalent bonds Carbon can bond with many elements

including hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur

All living things have carbon in them

The Chemistry of Carbon

Carbon can also bond with itself Because carbon can bond with itself, it

can form REALLY long chains

Carbon Chains

Macromolecules

Some molecules are so large, they are known as macromolecules, or “giant molecules”

We’ve talked about these before… …carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, amino

acid, nucleic acid Let’s look at more specifics

Carbohydrates

Made up of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen

Main source of energy for living things Sugars are “carbs” When broken down, provide energy Many living things store extra sugar is

stored as starch

Carb: Simple sugars

Can be called monosaccarides and simple sugars PS. Mono means 1

Examples include: glucose and galactose (found in milk) and fructose (found in fruits)

Table sugar, sucrose, is made up of both glucose and fructose and is a disaccharide PS. Di means two.

Complex Carbs

Large macromolecules formed when simple sugars join together

Many animals store extra sugar as a complex carb (glycogen)

When glucose in your blood runs low, glycogen is broken down into glucose and enters the blood stream

Plants use a different complex carb, starch, to store extra sugar.

Plants also make a complex carb called cellulose

Cellulose

Cellulose gives plants their strength and rigidity.

Cellulose is the major part of wood and paper

Lipids

Fats, oils, and waxes are common lipids Lipids are macromolecules that generally

do not dissolve in water Made of H and C Some lipids store energy Others form biological membranes Some produce waterproof coverings on

cells and tissues https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gqo3Y6WFYA

Saturated vs. Unsaturated

Many lipids are formed when a glycerol molecule joins with a fatty acid Bonds are the “—” between the letters

If there are all single bonds, it is considered “saturated”

If there is a double-bond with any of the carbon, it is “unsaturated”

Lipids that have “unsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature ex.: olive oil

Saturated vs. Unsaturated

Saturated/Unsaturated

Nucleic Acid

Macromolecule containing H, O, N, C, P Store and transmit genetic information

Two types-RNA ribonucleic acid Contains ribose

DNA- deoxyribonucleic Contains deoxyribose

Proteins

Micromolecules that contain: N, H, C, O https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJtAw61bzsM Proteins make up Amino Acids There are more than 20 different Amino

acids Functions: control cell processes and

reaction rates, others form important parts in a cell, while others help fight disease

Amino Acids are joined in long chains according to instructions in the DNA