Unit 2 - Molecular biology

Chemical properties of carbon

Carbons are able to form covalent bonds. This is when there is a sharing of two electrons between two atoms. Carbons can form up to four single bonds or a combination of single and double bonds with other carbon atoms or atoms of other non-metallic elements. This allows carbon to form long, stable chains and rings.

It can form single rings, multiple rings, branched chains and unbranched chains.
Single rings: Glucose

Multiple rings: Cholesterol

Branched chains: Glycogen

Unbranched chains: Amylose

Condensation

Chemical process where two or more molecules join together to form a more complex molecule, often eliminating another molecule, like water. 

Examples of production of macromolecules by condensation reactions that link monomers to form a polymer. 

Polysaccharides: Cellulose (plant cell wall), Glycogen (energy reserve)

Polypeptides: Petide hormones, component of snake venom (Natriuretic peptides)

Nucleic acid: DNA, RNA

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that breaks down proteins into peptides and amino acids by addition of water and presence of enzymes.