Download Carbon Compounds / Organic Chemistry

Carbon Compounds /
Organic Chemistry
Fall 2014
Carbon Atomic Structure
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Carbon atoms have four valence electrons that can join with the electrons
from other atoms to form strong covalent bonds.
A carbon atom can bond to other carbon atoms, giving it the ability to
form chains that are almost unlimited in length.
Macromolecules
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Living organisms are made of molecules that consist of carbon
and other elements.
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What are the key elements in organic chemistry?
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Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Sulfur
Macromolecules
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Macromolecules are
simply molecules made
up of smaller molecules.
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Large strands are called
polymers, while individual
pieces are called
monomers.
Macromolecules
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These elements combine to make the four key
macromolecules:
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LIPIDS (mainly C & H)
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CARBOHYDRATES (C, H, O)
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PROTEINS (C, H, O and N)
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NUCLEIC ACIDS (C, H, O, N, S & P)
Lipids
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Lipids are not water-soluble (they do not dissolve in
water).
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Lipids are found primarily as oils and fats.
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They serve as sources of energy storage or as
waterproof, semi-permeable membranes, like the ones
surrounding our cells.
Lipids
Phospholipid Bilayer
Carbohydrates
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Carbohydrates are compounds made up of carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in a ratio at or near 1:2:1.
Glucose  C6H12O6
 Sucrose (table sugar)  C12H22O11
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The primary purpose of carbohydrates is for energy.
Living things use carbohydrates as their primary source of
energy. Complex carbohydrates (starches) are chains of
molecules used as storage.
Carbohydrates
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Some carbohydrate molecules include:
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glucose
galactose
fructose
deoxyribose
arabinose
sucrose
maltose
lactose
pectin
glycogen
Carbohydrates
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An example of a complex carbohydrate:
Proteins
Proteins are polymers of amino acids.
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AA produced in body
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AA from outside sources
alanine
arginine
asparagine
aspartic acid
cysteine
glutamine
glutamic acid
glycine
proline
serine
tyrosine
histidine
isoleucine
leucine
lysine
phenylalanine
threonine
tryptophan
valine
Proteins
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The amino acids are integral parts of our DNA and RNA.
Nucleic Acids
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The composition of nucleic acids includes:
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a phosphate group
a nitrogenous base
a 5-carbon compound
Nucleic Acids
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Phosphate groups are ALWAYS the same:
Nucleic Acids
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Nitrogenous bases are always one of these five:
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adenine
guanine
cytosine
thymine
uracil