chemicals of life

Chemicals of life primarily include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, which are essential for maintaining biological functions.

1. Carbohydrates

   • Serve as energy sources (e.g., glucose).

   • Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

   • Types include monosaccharides (simple sugars), disaccharides (two sugars), and polysaccharides (long chains of sugars).

2. Lipids

   • Include fats, oils, and steroids.

   • Functions: energy storage, insulation, and making up cellular membranes.

   • Hydrophobic nature due to long hydrocarbon chains.

3. Proteins

   • Made up of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

   • Serve various roles: enzymes, structural support, transport, and immune response.

   • Structure is critical – primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary levels.

4. Nucleic Acids

   • DNA and RNA, responsible for genetic information storage and transfer.

   • Composed of nucleotides (sugar, phosphate group, nitrogenous base).

   • Play critical roles in protein synthesis and cell division.