Organic Molecules The “stuff” of life

Organic Molecules

Living Organisms Are Chemical Factories All life is based on organic molecules - molecules that are built on a backbone of CARBON. - also contain Hydrogen - and many also have Oxygen - often contain functional groups – smaller molecules which are part of a larger molecule and give it unique properties 3

Why are Organic Molecules based on Carbon? Carbon has unique properties - carbon is abundant – there’s lots of it - can bond with up to 4 other atoms - can bond readily with itself and other elements - makes chains with different shapes - shape determines function - forms bonds with different strengths

Carbon can bond with up to four other atoms Allows it to bond with 4 other atoms Carbon has 4 valence electrons

Carbon Bonds Readily with Itself This allows carbon to be the backbone of large and complex molecules. C C C C C C C C C C C Carbon bonds readily with other elements - in living things: Sulfur, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, & Hydrogen (SPONCH)

Carbon Bonds to Build a Variety of Shapes Straight chains Branched chains Rings

Carbon Forms Bonds of Different Strengths Single Bonds Double Bonds Triple Bonds

Biomolecules are Macro(big)molecules All biological molecules (biomolecules) are large complex molecules – made of chains of smaller molecules 4 Types of biomolecules - Carbohydrates – sugars and starches - Lipids – fats and oils - Proteins - Nucleic Acids – DNA, RNA, ATP, ADP

Biomolecules are Polymers Polymer –(poly = many mer = part) -Large molecules made of smaller molecules called monomers (mono = one mer = part) Polymer Each type of biomolecule has its own monomer Biomolecule Monomer_________ Carbohydrate Monosaccharide Lipid Fatty Acid and Glycerol Protein Amino Acid Nucleic Acid Nucleotide

Condensation Reactions Condensation Reaction – Reaction which joins monomers together to form a polymer - called condensation reaction because a molecule of water is removed from the polymers during the reaction. - also called dehydration synthesis

Condensation Reaction

Hydrolysis Breaks Apart Polymers Hydrolysis – reactions which break the bonds between monomers in a polymer. Called hydrolysis because water is added at each broken bond

Hydrolysis