Chemistry of Life! A quick (very quick) introduction!

Carbon! It’s special!

Because of it’s very special ability to combine in many ways with itself and other elements it has a central role in the chemistry of living organisms!

Forms of pure Carbon

Diamond (Crystalline form)

Graphite (Many flat layers; easily slide)

Fullerenes (Sphere shaped)

Nanotubes (long, hollow cylinder)

Organic Compounds

Organic compounds are compounds that contain carbon.

Originally, scientists believed that organic compounds only had to do with living organisms. That is no longer believed to be true.

Many organic compounds have similar properties in terms of melting points, boiling points, odor, electrical conductivity and solubility.

Polymers!

A long repeating chain of molecules is called a Polymer.

Organic compounds can be linked together to build polymers with thousands or even millions of atoms in one strand.

Polymers form when chemical bonds link large numbers of monomers (smaller molecules) in a repeating pattern.

More Polymers!

Synthetic Polymers: Plastics Glue Chewing Gum Synthetic fabric

Natural forms of Polymers: Amino Acids Proteins DNA!!! Silk!

CHONPS!

Living organisms are made of molecules consisting largely of:

Carbon

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

Sulfur