Download Organic compounds are covalent compounds composed of carbon

Chapter 14 Section 4
Organic Compounds
State Performance
Indicator
SPI 0807.9.4 –
Differentiate between a
mixture and a
compound
Organic compounds are
covalent compounds
composed of carbonbased molecules. More
than 90% of all
compounds belong to
this group.
All organic compounds
contain carbon. Each
carbon atom has four
valence electrons so
each carbon atom can
make four bonds with
four other atoms.
Organic compounds
may also contain
hydrogen, oxygen,
sulfur, nitrogen, and
phosphorus.
Carbon atoms bond
together to form a
structure called a
backbone. It makes the
molecule very strong.
There are three types of
structures for organic
compounds.
1.
2.
3.
Many organic
compounds contain
several kinds of atoms,
but some contain only
two. Organic compounds
that contain only carbon
and hydrogen are called
hydrocarbons.
Organic compounds made
by living things are called
biochemicals.
Biochemicals are divided
into four categories:
carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins, and nucleic acids.
Carbohydrates are
biochemicals composed
of one or more simple
sugar molecules bonded
together. Carbohydrates
are used as a source of
energy.
Lipids are biochemicals
that do not dissolve in
water. Fats, oils, and
waxes are kinds of
lipids.
Lipids are also used to
store some vitamins.
Lipids store excess
energy in the body.
When an organism has
used up most of its
carbohydrates, it can
obtain energy by
breaking down lipids.
Proteins are biochemicals
composed of “building
blocks” called amino acids.
Amino acids are small
molecules made up of
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,
and nitrogen atoms, and
sometimes sulfur atoms.
Most of the biochemicals
found in living things are
proteins.
Proteins function in the body
to regulate chemical
activities, transport and store
materials, build and repair
body structures, and regulate
processes.
Nucleic Acids The largest
molecules made by living
organisms are nucleic acids.
Nucleic acids are bio-chemicals
made up of nucleotides.
Nucleotides are molecules
made of carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen, and
phosphorus atoms.
There are only five
kinds of nucleotides,
but nucleic acids may
have millions of
nucleotides bonded
together.
Nucleic acids have
several functions. One
function is to store
genetic information.
They also help build
proteins and other
nucleic acids.
Nucleic acids are
sometimes called the
blueprints of life,
because they contain
all the information
needed for a cell to
make all its proteins.