MG

Organic Molecules - Biology Notes

Organic Molecules:

  • Organic Molecules/Macromolecules/Biochemistry/Biomolecules = Building blocks of life
    • Macro = Large
    • Bio = Life
    • Molecules = 1 or more atoms
    • Organic = contains carbon
  • All Living things have carbon!

Carbon:

  • Forms up to 4 bonds
  • Can form chains or rings with single, double, or triple bonds
    • CH3 = Methol Group
    • CH2 = Metholine
    • H3C= Pentene

Monomers Vs Polymers:

  • Monomer  - Individual molecules that hook together to make a polymer.
    • Mono = 1
    • Builds polymers from individual units
    • Ex: legos (pieces)
  • Polymer – Large Molecules made up of monomers.
    • Poly = Many
    • Large molecules made from individual monomers
    • Ex: Stacking legos to build a tower

The 4 Macromolecules or Biological Molecules:

  1. Carbohydrates
  2. Lipids
  3. Proteins
  4. Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates:

Functions:

  • Short term energy and structural support
  • Most end in –ose(sugar)
  • Sugar is made up of C:H:O in a 1:2:1 ratio

Ex: Glucose - C6H12O6

Monomer and Polymer for Carb:

Monomer:

  • Monosaccharide (single sugar)

    Mono = 1

    Saccharide = sugar

    • Glucose (plants)
    • Galactose (milk)
    • Fructose (fruit)

Polymer:

  • Polysaccharide – many monosaccharide.
  • Ex. Starch, Cellulose, Glycogen, and Chitin

Type of Carbohydrate:

  1. Starch -  Energy storage for plants
    • Iodine tests for the presence of starch.
    • If you put a drop of iodine on starch it changes color from yellow/brown to purple.
  2. Glycogen – Stores excess glucose in an animal's liver
  3. Cellulose – in plants’ cell wall
    • Humans cannot digest cellulose.
  4. Chitin – Makes the exoskeletons(structure) of arthropods, and cell walls of fungi.

Complex Carbohydrates:

Formation:

  • Dehydration Synthesis

    Dehydration:  Lacking/remaining H20

    Synthesis: combine/make/forming

  • Combining single compounds into a complex one by removing water

Breakdown:

  • Hydrolysis

Hydro = Water

Lysis = Disintegration

  • Addition of WATER to a compound SPLITS it

Lipids

  • Lipids = Fat
  • Made up of C H O (mostly C H)
  • Major functions:
    • long-term energy storage
    • Insulation
    • Waterproof coverings(Plant leaves)
  • Lipids are nonpolar & do not dissolve in water
  • The test for lipids is the brown paper bag test.  All lipids leave grease stains

Monomer and Polymer for Lipids:

  • Monomer: glycerol and fatty acid
  • Polymer: Triglyceride
    • Tri = 3 -> glycerols and fatty acids

Examples of Lipids:

  1. Oil-energy storage in plants
  2. Fat energy storage, protection and insulation in animals
  3. Waxes: waterproof coverings
  4. Phospholipids: Make up cell membranes
  5. Hormones: messengers for body
    • Cholesterol, Estrogen, Testosterone

==S==aturated Fats (==S==traight):

  • Solid at room temp
    • Ex: Steak fat, butter, etc.
  • These are bad for you!!!
  • Every carbon is single bonded

Unsaturated Fats (Bent):

  • They are Liquid at room temp
    • Ex: olive oil, oil from avocados
  • Good for you!
  • Two of the carbons are double bonded