Biology 6.4

Why is carbon special?

• Four electrons in its outer energy level (valence)

• Carbon can covalently bond with as many as 4 other atoms at one time

• Since it bonds covalently carbon atoms can also bond with other carbon atoms to create straight chain, branch chains, and ring chains

large molecules formed when smaller organic molecules join together. (polymers)

macromolecules

made from repeating units of smaller units called monomers. Linked by a series of covalent bonds

polymers

the process of putting together the molecules needed for life. Water is a product along with the larger molecule being made

biosynthesis

Breaks down larger molecules by adding water. We need this to happen to get molecules small enough to fit inside our cells

hydrolysis

Third use of cells organic compounds

enzymes

atoms or groups of atoms that are attached to carbon backbones

functional groups

when attached to a carbon backbone, renders the molecule polar. It will be attracted to water

hydroxyl group (OH)

when attached to a carbon backbone, renders a molecule an acid. It tends to release an H+ ion into solution

carboxyl group

Tend to gain a hydrogen to become ammonium (NH3)

Amines

bonds to carbon backbones, making molecules polar. Found in cell membranes and DNA molecules

Phosphate

What are the 4 groups that macromolecules are organized into?

Carbohydrates

Lipids

Proteins

Nucleic Acids

Composed of Carbon, Hydrogen, and oxygen

Carbohydrates and Lipids

What is the functional group of carbohydrates

hydroxyl

small carbohydrates that have less than 7 units bonded together

simple sugars

sugar that has only one unit, used to give the body energy and serve as building blocks for larger carbohydrates

monosaccharide

two monosaccharides linked together

dissacharides

What are common dissacharides

sucrose and lactose

Large groupings of monosaccharides

polyssacharides

Why are polysaccharides also called complex carbohydrates?

they take a long time to digest due to their size

-composed of over 1000 glucose molecules attached into one large chain

-made by plants to store energy for future use

Starch

Starch is easily ____ into individual glucose molecules. This means that starch can be easily broken down with the addition of ____

hydrolized, water

• a large molecule that forms cell walls in plant cells

• also called fiber and roughage

• Indigestible by humans (no enzyme to break it down)

cellulose

short term (24 h) energy storage

• made in animal cells

• stored in the liver and muscles

• glycogen that is not used turns into fat

glycogen

forms the exoskeleton of insects

chitin

made of glycerol and fatty acids

are no polar and don’t dissolve in water

lipids

Which functional group do lipids contain?

carboxyl group

What are the functions of lipids?

1. storage of energy in animals

Carbohydrates monomer

monosaccharides

Lipids monomer

glycerol and fatty acids

Proteins monomer

amino acid

Nucleic Acids monomer

nucleotide

Carbohydrates macromolecule

polysaccharide

lipids macromolecule

fat (Unsaturated or saturated)

Solid at room temperature (chain of fatty acid allows the fat molecules to lie close together)

saturated

liquid at room temperature (second fat built from an ____ fatty acid separates the molecules further apart)

unsaturated fats