Organic Molecules

Most organic molecules contain

Carbon and hydrogen

4 Major Types of Organic Molecules

• Carbohydrates

• Lipids

• Proteins

• Nucleic Acids

Carbon Bonding

Carbon forms covalent bonds by sharing electrons with other atoms

How many valence electrons does carbon have

4

Hydrocarbons

Chains of carbon atoms exclusively bonded to hydrogen atoms (can be linear, branched, or cyclic)

The 6 most important chemical elements whose covalent combinations make up most biological molecules on earth

Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur

Carbon skeleton/backbone

The carbons chain of organic molecules

Functional Groups

Clusters of specific atoms bonded to the carbon skeleton

What part of organic molecules do functional groups control?

The characteristics, structure, and function

Isomers

Organic molecules that have identical molecular formulas but a different arrangement of atoms

Polymers

Large molecule chains built from three or more monomers

Monomers

Small, simple molecules

monomers

Large carbon compounds are built from

Dehydration Synthesis Reactions

Linking monomers into polymers

General equation of dehydration synthesis

Monomer + monomer → polymer + H₂O

Hydrolysis

The breakdown of polymers

General equation of hydrolysis

Polymer + H₂O → monomer + monomer

How does dehydration synthesis work?

• Monomers are joined together to form water through dehydration synthesis reactions

• Requires an input of energy

• Each time a monomer is joined to a growing polymer, a molecule of water is released

A dehydration synthesis reaction is also known as a…

Condensation reaction

How does hydrolysis work?

• Energy is released

• Water molecules are needed to break down a polymer into its monomers

• The water molecule splits into H⁺ and OH^- ions

• One part of the split polymer gains a H⁺ and the other part gains and OH^-