Chemistry Basics and Macromolecules (W3)

Organic Chemistry

The study of carbon-based compounds, which are the basis for all life.

Hydrocarbon

A molecule made only of hydrogen and carbon atoms.

Isomer

Molecules with the same chemical formula but different structures and properties.

Functional Group

A specific cluster of atoms that gives a molecule its characteristic chemical properties.

Carboxyl

(-COOH) The acidic functional group found in organic acids.

Hydroxyl

(-OH) The functional group found in alcohols and sugars.

Amino

(-NH₂) The basic functional group found in amines.

Phosphate

(-PO₄) A functional group that stores and transfers energy.

Monomer

A single, small molecular building block.

Polymer

A large molecule made of many repeating monomers.

Carbohydrate

A biological molecule made of sugars, used for energy and structure.

Simple Sugar

A small carbohydrate that is the basic monomer unit.

Monosaccharide

A single sugar molecule (monomer), like glucose.

Disaccharide

A sugar made of two monosaccharides joined together.

Polysaccharide

A large polymer made of many sugar monomers.

Starch

A polysaccharide used by plants to store energy.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide used by animals to store energy.

Cellulose

A tough polysaccharide that forms the structural cell walls of plants.

Chitin

A polysaccharide that forms the exoskeletons of insects and cell walls of fungi.

Lipid

A diverse group of hydrophobic (water-fearing) molecules like fats and oils.

Triglyceride

The main form of stored fat, made of one glycerol and three fatty acids.

Fatty Acid

Long hydrocarbon chains that are the main building blocks of lipids.