Download Learning Guide: Water and Biomolecules (cont.) Bill Activity #17 To

Learning Guide: Water and Biomolecules (cont.)
Bill Activity #17
To Think About: How do molecules and atoms from the environment build new molecules?
1st Read About: Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
Pgs. 58-66 Campbell’s Biology 9th edition (2-sided column notes)
 Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds
o Explain the definition of organic chemistry and list the primary elements of living
things
o Describe how Stanley Miller bring the abiotic synthesis of organic compounds into
the context of evolution.
 Carbon atoms can form diverse molecules by bonding to four other atoms.
o Make an electron distribution diagram of carbon. List the number of valence
electrons, number of bonds and types of bonds it makes with other elements.
o Describe how carbon skeletons may vary (four ways), and explain how this variation
contributes to the diversity and complexity of organic molecules.
 A small number of chemical groups are key to the functioning of biological molecules
o Describe how two molecules can be very similar in structure but have very different
functions.
o Define a functional group. List the functional groups. For each write the formula and
sketch their structure (in top purple boxes)
2nd Read About: The Structure and Function of Large Biomolecules
Pgs. 68-69 Campbell’s Biology 9th edition (2-sided column notes)
 Macromolecules are polymers, built from monomers
o List the four main classes of important large molecules. Define macromolecule and
circle the three classes.
o Distinguish between a polymer and a monomer; condensation/dehydration reaction
and hydrolysis
3rd Interact: Watch Mr. Andersen’s Polymers video and take notes on it.
 Explain how the letters of the alphabet are similar to monomers of a polymer.
 Explain the phrase “you are what you eat” in the context of dehydration synthesis and
hydrolysis.