Carbon Based Compounds

Beginning Organic Chemistry

The Importance of Carbon Carbon has four valence electrons These four electrons have the ability to form

four covalent bonds Carbon consistently bonds with hydrogen,

oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen. These molecules make up the building blocks

of living things. . .remember CHNOPS!

Carbon Compounds

Carbon compounds are also known as organic molecules or organic compounds.

There are four types of organic compounds Carbohydrates Proteins Lipids Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules

Macromolecules are GIANT MOLECULES made of many smaller molecules

Macromolecules are also called polymers. A polymer is when monomers join

together A monomer is the building block of

polymers sometimes referred to as small sub-units.

Monomers can be formed by many different types of molecules or they can be formed by identical molecules joining together.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are made of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ration of 1:2:1 For every one carbon atom there are 2

hydrogen and 1 oxygen

Carbohydrates cont’d

A carbohydrate functions as the main source of energy for living things. In animals it is glucose In plants its cellulose

Carbohydrate cont’d

Carbohydrates can be used for structures in living things. In plants the cellulose allows plants to be

tough, flexible and rigid. In animals they are formed from the

breakdown of your food and are found in the structure of muscles to supply immediate energy to the cell.

Carbohydrate cont’d

Single carbohydrates or sugars are called monosaccharides

Polysacharrides are many single sugars combined.

Polysaccharides store excess sugar in glycogen in animals.

Lipids

Lipids are groups of molecules that are not soluble in water.

They make fats, oils, and waxes. Lipids store energy They are used to help waterproofing Lipids include steroids

Lipids cont’d

Lipids are formed when glycerol and fatty acids combine The monomer of a lipid is a fatty acid

Two type of Lipids Saturated fat that contain the maximum

number of hydrogen bonds Unsaturated fats are fats that have at least

one carbon double bond

Lipids

Lipids are found in various places in the body Cell membranes Lining of organs Under the skin Part of the skin

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are macromolecules that contain hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus.

They are made from monomers known as nucleotides.

Nucleic acids function to store and transmit genetic information.

There are two main types of nucleic acids: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Nucleic acids cont’d

The four nucleotides that are monomers of nucleic acids are: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine.

DNA has a sugar and phosphate backbone with the nucleotides connecting each strand with a hydrogen bond to the corresponding nucleotide on the opposite side.

DNA is found naturally in a state known as the double helix.

Nucleic acids cont’d

DNA is the instructions that control the production of proteins within the cell.

RNA is a single strand of sugar, phosphate backbone, with base pairs of uracil, adenine, guanine and cytosine.

RNA reads the genes found in DNA to create proteins.

Proteins

Proteins are large molecules that consist of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

Amino acids build protein molecules through a process called protein synthesis.

Amino acids are formed through the instructions from DNA, being translated into RNA, which in turn codes for a specific amino acid.

Proteins cont’d

Proteins form from the amino acids changing their R group. The R group determines how the protein will fold.

Primary structure of a protein forms through chains of amino acids.

Secondary structure of a protein then twist into a helical shape similar to DNA.

Tertiary structure folds and continue to turn. Quarternary structure forms when multiple

polypeptide chains (amino acid chains) combine and intertwine.

Proteins cont’d

Proteins have variety of function within cells, the shape is what determines the function.

Proteins function to: Provide structure Regulate cell processes Speed up chemical reactions Help with transport of molecules within the

cell membrane.

Organic Molecule Video