Organic & Inorganic Compounds

Organic Compounds

Any chemical substance that contains carbon atoms covalently linked to other elements—most commonly hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen.

Carbohydrates

Are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically with a hydrogen-to-oxygen ratio of 2:1. They are classified by the number of sugar units (saccharides) they contain.

Monosaccharides

Single sugar molecules. They are the simplest form and cannot be broken down further. Examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Disaccharides

Two chemically bonded monosaccharides. They must be split apart by enzymes during digestion. Examples include sucrose (table sugar), lactose (milk sugar), and maltose.

Oligosaccharides

Short chains of 3 to 10 sugar units. They act as prebiotic fibers that feed beneficial gut bacteria and are found in foods like beans and onions.

Polysaccharides

Long chains of hundreds or thousands of monosaccharides. They serve either as energy storage (like glycogen in animals and starch in plants) or structural components (like cellulose in plant cell walls and chitin in insect exoskeletons).

Simple Carbohydrates

Composed of monosaccharides and disaccharides. Because of their small size, the body breaks them down rapidly, causing sharp spikes and drops in blood glucose levels. Found in fruits, milk, sodas, and baked goods.

Complex Carbohydrates

Composed of polysaccharides. Their long, intricate chains take much longer for digestive enzymes to dismantle, providing a steady, sustained release of energy. Found in whole grains, legumes, oats, and starchy vegetables.

Lipids

A diverse group of organic compounds composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that are insoluble in water (hydrophobic) but soluble in organic solvents. They serve as the body's most concentrated long-term energy storage, structural components of cell membranes, and critical signaling molecules. Examples are: oils, fats, and waxes.

Proteins

Complex organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, formed by long chains of subunits called amino acids. They are the literal building blocks of the body, executing nearly every functional task required for a cell to live, replicate, and defend itself.

Enzymes (catalysts)

Speed up chemical reactions within the body by millions of times.

Denaturation

Protein structures are delicate. Exposure to extreme heat, drastic pH changes, or harsh chemicals can break their internal bonds, causing the protein to unfold and lose its functional shape. Example: when clear, liquid egg whites turn solid and white during cooking.

Nucleic Acids

Large, complex organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Constructed from long chains of subunits called nucleotides, they serve as the primary informational macromolecules of life, responsible for storing, transmitting, and expressing genetic instructions.

Vitamins

Organic compounds that living organisms require in minute quantities for essential metabolic processes, cellular repair, and disease prevention. They function as vital biochemical catalysts and coenzymes that living organisms produce.

Inorganic Compounds

Any chemical substance that lacks carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds. This covers the behavior, structures, and properties of all the remaining elements in the periodic table, as well as a few simple, non-living carbon compounds.

Water

The most abundant inorganic compound on Earth and living organisms (60-95%). It is a medium for transport of nutrient gases and waste, and the universal solvent for biochemical reactions.

Minerals

Are naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a definite chemical composition and an ordered internal atomic structure. The body needs in small amounts to regulate cellular metabolism, maintain fluid balance, and build structural tissues like bone. They originate from soil and water.