Chemical Compounds in Cells

Review of basic chemistry

• Element – any substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance– Ex – carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen

• Atom – smallest unit of an element• Compound – two or more elements chemically

combined – Ex – water, sugar, starch

• Molecule – smallest unit of most compounds– Ex – H2O, C6H12O6, O2, CO2

Inorganic Compounds

• Does not contain Carbon– Ex – water (H2O)

Organic Compounds• Contain Carbon

– Includes: Carbohydrates

ProteinsLipids

Nucleic Acids

Proteins

• Contain C, H, O, N and sometimes Sulfur

• Found in many foods

• In the cell, used as: -part of cell membranes

-structures of organelles

-muscles in the body

Structure of Proteins• Made of amino acids

– There are 20 different amino acids in living things

• These amino acids link together to form a large molecule of 50-3000 amino acids in one protein.

• Change one aa, change whole protein

Enzymes• Special kinds of proteins

• Chemicals that speed up chemical reactions in the body without being used up themselves.

Carbohydrates• Energy rich

• Contain C, H, and O

• Simple sugars - glucose

• Complex carbohydrates – made up of many simple sugars attached to each other– Starch– Cellulose – make up plant cell walls

Found in cell membranes, other cell parts, and store energy

Lipids

• Fats, oils, waxes

• Store energy

• Made of C, H, and O

• Contain more energy

than carbs

Nucleic Acids

• DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid

• RNA – ribonucleic acid

• Made of C, H, O, N, and Phosphorus

• Contain instructions for cells to carry

out all their functions.

Water

• Makes up about two thirds of your body.

• Most chemical reactions occur in water.

• Essential for all life.