Download Organic Molecules Contrast Chart

Major Class
Carbohydrates
Subclass
Monosaccharides
Examples
Glucose, fructose,
galactose, ribose,
deoxyribose
Components/Structure
CH2O
Arranged in rings
Identifying Features
Single ring
Elements: C, H, O
Nucleic Acids
Proteins
Lipids
Uses in an organism
Energy storage
Organelle: Mitochondria
(cell respiration)
And Chloroplast
(photosynthesis)
Disaccharides
Maltose, sucrose, lactose
Two monosaccharides
linked by glycosidic
linkages
Two rings
Polysaccharides
Starch, glycogen,
cellulose, chitin
Many monosaccharides
linked by glycosidic
linkages
Many rings, branched or
unbranched
DNA
Genes
Elements: C, H, N, O, P
Double helix sugar/phosphate
backbone
RNA
tRNA, mRNA, rRNA
ATP, ADP, AMP
ATP
3 phosphate groups,
ribose sugar, nitrogen
base (adenine)
3 phosphate groups
Energy transfer
Amino Acids
(monomer)
20 types (glycine,
isoleucine, etc)
Amino group
“R” group can be either polar
or non polar
Support, storage,
transport, movement,
reactions, signaling,
defense
Polypeptides
Enzymes, hair, nails
Elements:
C, H, N, O, P, S
Amino group, carboxyl
group, hydrogen, and R
group around a central
carbon
Chain of amino acids
linked by peptide bonds
Fats
Saturated, unsaturated,
fatty acids, triglycerides
Elements: C,H,O
Glycerol +3 fatty acid
chains (hydrocarbons)
Hydrophobic (non-polar)
they are not polymers
Phospholipids
Phosholipid bilayer of cell
membrane
Phosphate head + 2
fatty acid tails
Cell membrane
Steroids
Cholesterol, testosterone,
estrogen
4 carbon rings
Hormones
Phosphate, ribose sugar, Single strand sugar phosphate
nitrogen base
backbone
heredity
Protein synthesis
linked amino groups
Energy storage