Organic Compounds

organic compound

a covalently bonded compound that contains carbon

biochemistry

the study of all compounds containing carbon

trace elements

required by an organism in only small amounts

macromolecule

a giant molecule made up of thousands of smaller molecules called monomers

monomers

A chemical subunit that serves as a building block of a polymer

polymerization

a chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer

4 types of macromolecules

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

Carbohydrates

main source of energy for living things

1:2:1 ratio of Carbon/Hydrogen/Oxygen

monosaccharide

simple sugar molecule

ex: glucose, fructose

disaccharide

A double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by dehydration synthesis.

polysaccharide

large macromolecule formed from monosaccharides

-multiple sugar molecules

monomer of carbohydrates

simple sugar

ex: glucose

polymer of carbohydrates

starches

ex: cellulose

lipids

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

usually not soluble in water

-fats, oils, waxes, and steroids

-store energy

-make up cell membranes

monomer of lipids

fatty acids

polymer of lipids

triglycerodes, oil, waxes

function of lipids

energy storage, insulation, protection, form cell membranes, waterproofing

saturated fats

fats that are solid at room temperature

-has maximum number of hydrogen bonds

unsaturated fats

fats that are usually liquid at room temperature

-has at least one double bond that causes "kinks"

protein

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen

-regulate cell processes, form body tissues, transport substances, fight disease

monomer of protein

amino acids (20)

polymer of protein

polypeptide, enzymes, hormones, muscle

nucleic acid

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus

-made up of 5 carbon sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base

-DNA or RNA

nucleotide

monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

polymer of nucleic acids

DNA and RNA