Download Section 8-4

Section 8-4
Life with Carbon
Elements in Living Things
• Living things contain the following elements:
C,H,O,P,N,S
– These elements make the polymers in living things
Four Classes of Organic Polymers
• Carbohydrates
– Energy rich compounds made of C, H, and O
– Monomers are simple sugars
• Glucose
• Fructose
• Galactose
– Includes starches, cellulose, potatoes, rice, etc.
Classes of Organic Polymers Cont.
• Proteins
– Made of C, H, O, P, N, and S
– Used to build and repair body parts
– Monomers are amino acids
• There are 20 amino acids in all living things
– Includes meat, eggs, milk, etc
• Enzymes
– Proteins that speed up chemical reactions
(catalysts).
Classes of Organic Polymers Cont.
• Lipids
– Organic compounds made of C, H, and O
– Used for energy storage
– Monomers are fatty acids and glycerol
– Include fats, oils, and waxes
Classes of Organic Polymers Cont.
• Nucleic Acids
– Very large organic compounds made of C, H, O, N,
and P
– Used to pass genetic information to next
generation
– Nucleotides are the monomers
– Includes DNA and RNA
Other Nutrients
• Water
– Dissolves substances, controls temperature, and helps
carry out reactions
• Vitamins
– Organic compounds the body need to carry out
chemical reactions
• Minerals
– Elements the body needs for chemical reactions
• Salts
– Ionic compounds important for nerve messages and
controlling pH