The “stuff” of life

Living Organisms Are Chemical Factories All life is based on organic molecules

- molecules that are built on a backbone of CARBON.

- also contain Hydrogen

- and many also have Oxygen

- often contain functional groups – smaller molecules which are part of a larger molecule and give it unique properties

Why are Organic Molecules based on Carbon? Carbon has unique properties

- carbon is abundant – there’s lots of it

- can bond with up to 4 other atoms

- can bond readily with itself and other elements

- makes chains with different shapes

- shape determines function

- forms bonds with different strengths

Carbon can bond with up to four other atomsCarbon has 4 valence

electrons

Allows it to bond with 4

other atoms

Carbon Bonds Readily with Itself

This allows carbon to be the backbone of large and complex molecules.

C C C C C C C C C C C

Carbon bonds readily with other elements

- in living things: Sulfur, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, & Hydrogen (SPONCH)

Carbon Bonds to Build a Variety of Shapes Straight chains

Branched chains

Rings

Carbon Forms Bonds of Different Strengths

Single Bonds

Double Bonds

Triple Bonds

Biomolecules are Macro(big)moleculesAll biological molecules (biomolecules) are

large complex molecules – made of chains of smaller molecules

4 Types of biomolecules

- Carbohydrates – sugars and starches

- Lipids – fats and oils

- Proteins

- Nucleic Acids – DNA, RNA, ATP, ADP

Biomolecules are Polymers Polymer –(poly = many mer = part) -Large molecules

made of smaller molecules called monomers (mono = one mer = part)

Polymer

Each type of biomolecule has its own monomer Biomolecule Monomer_________ Carbohydrate Monosaccharide Lipid Fatty Acid and Glycerol Protein Amino Acid Nucleic Acid Nucleotide

Condensation Reactions

Condensation Reaction – Reaction which

joins monomers together to form a polymer

- called condensation reaction because a molecule of water is removed from the polymers during the reaction.

- also called dehydration synthesis

Condensation Reaction

Hydrolysis Breaks Apart Polymers Hydrolysis – reactions which break the

bonds between monomers in a polymer.

Called hydrolysis because water is added at each broken bond

Hydrolysis

What should you know?

Organic molecule Characteristics of carbon Biomolecule Macromolecule 4 types of biomolecules Monomer Monomers of each type of biomolecule Polymer Condensation reaction Hydrolysis