Biology 2.3-2.4

Organic Chemistry

Study of carbon compounds

Macromolecules

Large molecules

Polymerization

When large compounds are built by joining smaller ones together, how macromolecules are formed

Monomers

Small, single, molecules

Polymers

Larger molecules made up of monomers

Carbohydrates

CHO, monosaccharides are galactose, glucose, and fructose, polysaccharides are starch, glycogen, and cellulose, main function is energy and structure

Lipids

CHO, made of 3 fatty acids and 1 glycerol molecule, main function is stored energy, insulation, protection

Proteins

CHON, monomers are amino acids, polymers are polypeptides, main function is structure

Nucleic Acids

CHONP, monomer is nucleotides, polymers are DNA, RNA, main function is genetic information

Reactants

The elements or compounds that are present at the start of a reaction

Products

The elements or compounds produced by a chemical reaction

Exothermic Reactions

Chemical reactions that release energy, often occur on their own, or spontaneously

Endothermic Reactions

Chemical reactions that absorb energy, usually will not occur without a source of energy

Activation Energy

The energy that is needed to get a reaction started

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction

Enzymes

Proteins that act as biological catalyst, speed up chemical reactions

Substrates

The molecule that an enzyme acts upon

Active Site

A site that substrates bind to on an enzyme