Download Chemical Compounds Overview

Chemical Compounds
1. Carbohydrates
a. Main source of energy
b. Monomer (building block)- Monosaccharide; a single sugar
such as glucose
c. Polymer- Polysaccharide; when monosccharides join
together such as glycogen
d. Dehydration synthesis- Reaction in which water in removed
to form a bond, creating a polymer.
e. Hydrolysis- Reverse of dehydration synthesis. Polymers are
broken down into monomers by adding water.
2. Lipids
a. Store energy. Form some membranes.
b. Monomer- Glycerol + 3 fatty acids
c. Polymer- fats, oils, waxes, steroids
d. Can be saturated or unsaturated
i. Saturated- All carbon bonds are single bonds
ii. Unsaturated- Carbon has one or more double bonds
with another atom.
3. Proteins
a. Functions vary; construction (structural proteins), cell
function (functional proteins), etc.
b. Monomers- amino acid
c. Polymers- polypeptide
d. Example: Enzymes- biological catalysts. They speed up
chemical reactions. Can be reused again and again.
4. Nucleic Acids
a. Make up genetic material
b. Monomer- Nucleotide
c. Polymer- DNA and RNA
d. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)i. Found in the nucleus of a cell
ii. Contains the nucleotides A, G, T, and C
iii. Its sugar is deoxyribose
iv. Double-stranded to form a double helix
e. RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
i. Located outside the nucleus
ii. Contains the nucleotides A, G, U, and C
iii. Its sugar is ribose
iv. Single-standed
5. Water
a. High heat capacity- Takes a lot to change it’s temperature
significantly
b. Polarity/Solvent- Universal solvent. Can easily dissolve
chemicals.
c. Chemical reactivity- Helps in chemical reactions. For
example, hydrolysis reactions need water to break down
other molecules.
d. Cushioning- Protective cushion in human body. For
example, cerebrospinal fluid forms cushion around brain.
e. Hydrogen bonds- Hydrogen bonds hold water molecules
together and create surface tension
6. ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
a. Provides chemical energy for our cells by the breaking of a
bond where energy is stored.
b. Once it is used for energy, it becomes ADP, which can then
be reloaded with energy.
c. Used to fuel reactions and processes in the body. For
example, making proteins, transporting substances, etc.