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

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