Organic Compounds

Organic Elements:

Elements primarily found in organic compounds, including carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus that are essential for the formation of various organic molecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Carbon (most special): (3)

has 4 valence electrons that can form strong covalent bonds

can/does bind to other carbon atoms to form chains that are almost unlimited in length and can close themselves up to form rings

Can form millions of large and complex structures

Polymerization: (3)

Monomers: small molecules that can be bonded together to make larger compounds - can be identical or different

Polymers: large compounds built by joining many monomers together

Macromolecules = big molecules made of complex carbon chains that are responsible for all the characteristics and functions of living things

Dehydration Synthesis: (2)

The process by which two molecules/monomers are covalently bonded to each other through the removal of a water molecule to form a polymer

dehydration = removal of water, synthesis = put together to make

Hydrolysis: (2)

The process of breaking down polymers into monomers by the addition of water, reversing dehydration synthesis

hydro = water, lysis = unbind

Big 4 Macromolecules:

Carbohydrates = provide energy for cellular processes

Lipids = provide long term energy for cellular processes

Proteins = perform cellular processes

Nucleic Acids = gives directions for cellular processes

Carbohydrates: (5)

Organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in a ratio of 1:2:1

These compounds are broken down and used for energy

Excess sugar is stored as complex carbohydrates like starch

monomer = monosaccharide = simple sugars like glucose, galactose, and fructose

polymers = disaccharide (2 monosaccharides bonded together) or polysaccharide (large macromolecules of 3+ monosaccharides (ex. glycogen - animals, starch/cellulose - plants)

Lipids: (6)

Provide long term energy and make up cell structures (ex. cell membranes)

Not soluble in water (hydrophobic)

Composed of mostly carbon and hydrogen atoms

Include fats, oils, waxes, and steroids

monomer = glycerol and fatty acids

Don’t have true polymers, but different lipids may make large molecules like phospholipids and triglycerides

Proteins: (6)

Enzymes, hormones, and other molecules that perform cell functions or help with cell structures found in the body as things like dopamine and insulin, which can be found in medicine substances like GLP-1’s, hormone replacement therapy, and insulin

Contain nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

monomers = amino acids (have an amino group (-NH2) on one end, a carboxyl group (-COOH) on the other, and an R group that identifies one amino acid from another (between) all binded together

20 different amino acids found in nature (allows for many diff combinations)

polymers = peptides (chain of amino acids), dipeptides (2 peptide chains joined together), or polypeptides (3+ chains joined together

Organized in complex chains and shapes instead of a line, depending on the type of bonds in each amino acid (primary = single chain of amino acids, secondary = amino acid chain is twisted or folded (2D), tertiary = chain is folded in on itself (3D), quaternary = 2 or more tertiary chains bond and form a specific shape)

Nucleic Acids: (3)

Contain hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus

monomers = nucleotides (composed of a 5-carbon sugar, phosphate base, and nitrogenous base that come in 5 different kinds)

polymers = nucleic acid (formed through covalent bonds) - 2 types are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA)