Organic Chemistry:
Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, & Nucleic Acids
Background Information
Organic v. Inorganic Compounds:
- Organic is carbon-based, and molecules are quite large with many atoms, and typically associated with living things, always covalent bonding.
- Inorganic is not carbon-based, and contains p+ and n- ions.
Importance of Carbon: can bond with up to 4 different atoms to form chains, rings, and branches; and it will always form covalent bonds and share electrons.
- Carbon has the potential to create huge molecules.
Functional Group: a specific combination of bonded atoms that always react in the same way.
Isomers: organic molecules with identical molecular formulas, but a different arrangement of atoms.
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Formation Of Macromolecules
Monomer: Subunits of macromolecules.
Polymer: Chains of monomers that make up macromolecules (it is a macromolecule).
Dehydration: Joining monomers to form polymers (attaching monomers----->loses H2O; exits the reaction) Ex: C6H12O6 OR C12H22O11-------> went through dehydration
Hydrolysis: Breaking polymers apart into monomers (Hydrolysis- water; destroy or break apart); you break apart a polymer by adding H2O.
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Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates: Organic Molecule made of C, H, & O in a 1:2:1 ratio [Carbo (Carbon); Hydrate (Water or H2O); CH20]
Functions: Provides short term energy (also provides structure in some organisms)
Monomers: Monosaccharide
Two Types of Carbohydrates:
1.) Simple Sugars: immediate energy
2.) Starch: 12-24 hour energy
Monosaccharide: contain a single sugar molecule (Ex: Glucose, Ribose, Deoxyribose, or Fructose)
Disaccharide: 2 monosaccharides joined by a dehydration reaction
Polysaccharides: long chains of monosaccharides (polymers)
- Starch: storage form of glucose in plants
- Glycogen: storage form of glucose in the liver
- Cellulose (plant’s cell walls) & Chitin (exoskeletons): make up cell walls
Foods Containing Simple Sugars: Candy, Fruit, Sugar, Ice Cream, Desserts
Foods Containing Starch: Pasta, Cereal, Bread, Corn, Potatoes (grain products)
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Proteins
Proteins: organic molecules that provide structure & function made of C, H, O,& N
Functions:
- Support/Structure
- Metabolism (Every Reaction in the Body)
- Transport (Hemoglobin)
- Defense (Antibodies)
- Motion (Muscles)
- Regulation (Homeostasis)
Monomer: Amino Acids
Parts of an Amino Acid:
- Amino Group=NH2
- Carboxyl (Acidic Group)=COOH
- R-Group (differentiates amino acids)
Peptide Bond: Joins two amino acids.
Polypeptide: A long chain of amino acids, connected by peptide bonds.
Levels of Protein Organization
- Primary Structure: Sequence of amino acids that form a polypeptide chain.
- Secondary Structure: H-bonds between amino acids cause a helix to form OR a pleated sheet.
- Tertiary Structure: Helix folds due to bonding of R-groups.
- Quaternary Structure: 2 or more polypeptides join.
Foods Containing Proteins: Meats, Poultry, Seafood, Soy, Dairy, Nuts
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Lipids
Lipids: organic molecule made of C, H, & O that is insoluble in water (there is also a much greater than a 2:1 ratio of H:O); they have lots of carbon and hydrogen, yet they have very little oxygen
Functions: long term energy storage, insulation, cell membranes
Monomers: Glycerol and Fatty Acids (Triglyceride: 3 fatty acids and glycerol, which is the backbone)
Two Types of Fatty Acids:
- Saturated Fatty Acids: have no double bonds between carbon atoms (unhealthy)
- Solid at room temperature
- Fats (lard/butter)
- Harder for body to break down and are what clogs your arteries
- "Saturated"- full of hydrogen atoms
2. Unsaturated Fatty Acids: have double bonds between carbon atoms (healthy)
- Liquid at room temperature
- Oils
- Not full of hydrogen, because there are double bonds (C=C; double bond between carbon atoms)
Polymers:
- Phospholipids: fat that make up cell membranes (forms bilayer)
- Steroids: cholesterol, testosterone, estrogen
- Waxes
Foods Containing Lipids: Meats, Dairy, Butter
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Nucleic Acids
Nucleic Acids: DNA & RNA and atoms present are Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus.
Functions: code for the structure & function of cells (code for proteins)
Monomer: Nucleotide
- contains sugar, phosphate group, & a nitrogen base
DNA: the genetic material (deoxyribonucleic acid)
RNA: the copy of DNA used to make proteins