The Components of Life

Organic Chemistry

4 Big Ones….

I. Organic Chemistry

Compounds created by living organisms are organic compounds.

Organic chemistry studies all compounds that have bonds between carbon atoms.

A. Carbon: (2 reasons carbon is important)

1st: Carbon has 4 valence electrons which are those that are involved in chemical reaction.

So carbon can bond to four different elements.

Methane Acetylene Butadiene Benzene Isooctane

Section 2-3

Figure 2-11 Carbon Compounds

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2nd: Carbon atoms can bond to other carbon atoms to form single or double or triple bonds.

This allows carbon to form long chains that can be almost any length and loop to form cyclic structures.

Simple organic structures:

B. Organic Compounds: 1. 1. Not all molecules in living organisms

are organic. Ex: Water and Salt 2. Four types of large organic compounds

(macromolecules) include: i. proteins ii.carbohydrates iii. lipids iv. nucleic acids

CarbonCompounds

include

that consist of

which contain

that consist of that consist of that consist of

which contain which contain which contain

Section 2-3

Concept Map

Carbohydrates Lipids Nucleic acids Proteins

Sugars and starches

Fats and oils Nucleotides Amino Acids

Carbon,hydrogen,

oxygen

Carbon,hydrogen,

oxygen

Carbon,hydrogen,oxygen, nitrogen,

phosphorus

Carbon,hydrogen,oxygen,

nitrogen,

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3. Macromolecules are formed when smaller molecules called monomers are joined together in a process known as polymerization.

4. Polymerization forms polymers which may be made from hundreds or thousands of monomers

Example of Polymerization

Examples of compounds:

Organic Carbohydrates Protein Lipids/fats Nucleic acids Enzymes Carbon-based

polymers

Non-organic Salts Minerals and

simple elements Water Ionic compounds Compounds

without carbon

II. Carbohydrates A. Structure of Carbohydrates:

1. macromolecules made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

usually in a ratio of 1:2:1 B. Purposes of carbohydrates:

1) primary source of fast energy 2) structural purposes for plants and some

animals

C. Monosaccharides are the simplest kinds of carbohydrates. 1. Used by plants during

photosynthesis to store glucose as starch

Examples: Fructose- found in many fruits Glucose- stored as starch Galactose- found in milk

D. Polysaccharides

1. Larger carbohydrates-”poly” means many so these compounds are “many sugars” linked together with covalent bonds.

2. Examples:

a. Starch produced when sugar molecules form a chain

b. Glycogen-type of animal starch to store excess sugars

c. Cellulose-used in cell walls of plants

Starch

Glucose

Section 2-3

Figure 2-13 A Starch

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Picture of cellulose fiber from print paper

III. Lipids--Section 4.3

organic molecules Can be of fats, waxes, or steroids. Fewer oxygen atoms than

carbohydrates. Not soluble in water.

A. Fats can be used to store energy but are used for long term storage. Made of Glycerol + 3 fatty acid

molecules

G------Fatty acid L Y C------Fatty acid E R O L-------Fatty acid

Lipids continued…

2. Some are saturated fats having the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible.

3. Examples of saturated fats are butter, shortening, and lard.

.

4. Unsaturated fats have one double carbon to carbon bond.

5. Polyunsaturated fats have more than one double bond. They are liquids at room temperature

Not all fats are bad….

6. Humans need some fat to live. Two essential fats are omega-3 and omega-6 found in cold water fish, nuts and seeds.

Other lipids…

7. Waxes form coverings on leaves, skin, or fur.

Examples of Fatty Acids:

B. Phospholipids:

Similar to fats but have a phosphate group instead of a 3rd fatty acid.

Found in the cell membrane.

C. Steroids:

1. The chemical structure of a steroid contains 4 carbon rings.

2. Arranged in 6,6,6,5 format. 3. Cholesterol is a steroid that is

used to make hormones.

IV. Proteins-Section 4.4 A. Functions of Proteins:

1. Form the main structural component of skeletal muscle, skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, horns, bone, hair and feathers.

Receptors that detect chemical signals so that cells can respond to stimuli

Important in the movement of muscles and for movement of many cells.

More functions of proteins:

Serve as antibodies to protect against diseases.

Highly specialized as enzymes Help transport substances through

the body Provide storage for elements like

iron.

B. Amino Acids:

1. Are the building blocks of proteins.

2. Contain C, H, O, and nitrogen(N).

3. Are joined together by a type of covalent bond called a peptide bond.

4. Chains of amino acids are called polypeptides and may contain as many as 3000 amino acids.

General structure Alanine Serine

Section 2-3

Figure 2-16 Amino Acids

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Amino group Carboxyl group

General structure Alanine Serine

Section 2-3

Figure 2-16 Amino Acids

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Amino group Carboxyl group

General structure Alanine Serine

Section 2-3

Figure 2-16 Amino Acids

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Amino group Carboxyl group

Aminoacids

Section 2-3

Figure 2-17 A Protein

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VI. Nucleic Acids--Section 4.6:

A. Nucleic Acids are: 1. Macromolecules containing C, H,

O, N and phosphorus (P). 2. Made of units called nucleotides

Each nucleotide is made of 3 parts Sugar Phosphate group Nitrogen base

B. Two types of Nucleic acids: 1. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

contains deoxyribose (sugar) DNA is shaped like a double helix

or a twisted ladder -Discovered by Watson and Crick

3. DNA forms genes that store genetic information

DNA: It is made of nucleotides ; each contain one of four bases. The four bases are adenine (A), guanine (G),

cytosine (C), thymine (T)

The backbone of the ladder is formed by the

sugars and the phosphates

The rungs of the ladder are formed by hydrogen bonds between base pairs

Adenine – Thymine Guanine - Cytosine

2. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) contains ribose sugar.

Main function is protein synthesis. RNA is a single stranded RNA bases are A, G, C and Uracil (U). There is

no Thymine in RNA. Bases are adenine-uracil cytosine-guanine

VII. Enzymes--Section 4.6

A. Enzymes are special proteins that allow certain chemical reactions to occur that normally would occur too slowly or require too much energy to be practical inside living things.

B. Enzymes act as catalysts which lower the amount of energy needed and speed up the reactions.

Reaction pathwaywithout enzyme Activation energy

without enzyme

Activationenergywith enzymeReaction pathway

with enzyme

Reactants

Products

Section 2-4

Effect of Enzymes

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Energy-Absorbing Reaction Energy-Releasing Reaction

Products

Products

Activation energy

Activation energy

Reactants

Reactants

Section 2-4

Figure 2-19 Chemical Reactions

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Energy-Absorbing Reaction Energy-Releasing Reaction

Products

Products

Activation energy

Activation energy

Reactants

Reactants

Section 2-4

Figure 2-19 Chemical Reactions

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C. Enzymes are very specific. They work only on certain substances

called substrates. Each substrate has an area on it

called the active site. The active site and the shape of the

substrate fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

The the two pieces don’t fit, the enzyme will not work. This specific fit is called the lock and key model.

If the enzyme does fit, it remains there until the reaction is complete and then it is released to be used in another reaction.

Glucose

Substrates

ATP

Substratesbind toenzyme

Substratesare convertedinto products

Enzyme-substratecomplex

Enzyme(hexokinase)

ADPProducts

Glucose-6-phosphate

Productsare released

Section 2-4

Figure 2-21 Enzyme Action

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Active site

Glucose

Substrates

ATP

Substratesbind toenzyme

Substratesare convertedinto products

Enzyme-substratecomplex

Enzyme(hexokinase)

ADPProducts

Glucose-6-phosphate

Productsare released

Section 2-4

Figure 2-21 Enzyme Action

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Active site

Glucose

Substrates

ATP

Substratesbind toenzyme

Substratesare convertedinto products

Enzyme-substratecomplex

Enzyme(hexokinase)

ADPProducts

Glucose-6-phosphate

Productsare released

Section 2-4

Figure 2-21 Enzyme Action

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Active site

Glucose

Substrates

ATP

Substratesbind toenzyme

Substratesare convertedinto products

Enzyme-substratecomplex

Enzyme(hexokinase)

ADPProducts

Glucose-6-phosphate

Productsare released

Section 2-4

Figure 2-21 Enzyme Action

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Active site

D. Factors that affect how well this works….

Concentration of substrate Temperature (body is 98.6

degrees) pH (different systems in body are

require different pH levels)

Copy Questions and answer

1. What type of macromolecule is produced by plants in photosynthesis?

2. Animal cells may store excess energy as molecules of ________.

3. What type of molecules are formed when monosaccharides bond together?

4. What elements are found in carbohydrates?5. Which of the following is a monsaccharide?-

sucrose, glucose, starch, cellulose6. What are organic molecules that are used for

long-term energy called?

7. What are the two parts of a fat molecule?8. What is the difference between a saturated and

unsaturated fat?9. List three types of lipids.10. List three functions of proteins.11. What elements are found in proteins?12. 13. What type of bond joins amino acids in a

polypeptide?14. What are the building blocks of proteins called?15. List three factors that affect enzyme activity.

What is the area of an enzyme where the substrate fits called?

What type of macromolecule is an enzyme