Chemistry of Life Organic Chemistry

Water What do you think makes water so special? Liquid at room temperature Everyone needs it to survive, You are made of mostly water It floats when it freezes Covers 75% of the earth’s surface

Uneven distribution of electrons results in a polar molecule

Hydrogen Bond A bond formed in polar molecules

Chemical Compounds in Living Things Inorganic - Do not contain carbon –the exception is carbon dioxide –examples are: water, minerals, sand, stone, salts Organic – carbon-containing compounds

Organic Chemistry Carbon has the ability to form covalent bonds that are strong and stable Carbon can bond to Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Hydrogen, Sulfur and more

Organic Chemistry Can be single, double or triple covalent bonds Can be a ring with single or double bonds or both

Functional Groups

Phosphates PO 3

Polymerization Can have chains of unlimited length (polymers) large compounds (polymers) formed by joining together smaller compounds (monomer)

Polymerization Starch Glucose

Compounds of Life Proteins Carbohydrates Fats (lipids) Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates Powerful Stuff

Carbohydrates Sugars and Starches Contain Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio Simplest is Monosaccharides – simple sugars Glucose, galactose, fructose C 6 H 12 O 6 What makes them different is the arrangement of atoms Sugars contain lots of energy (stored in the bonds)

Dehydration Synthesis

2 or more monosaccharides combine to form a larger molecule (polymerize) Join at OH groups of each molecule. One OH from one molecule combines with the H of another. What is it called when you take the water out of something? Dehydration. Synthesis is “Putting together”. Dehydration Synthesis is putting two molecules (in this case simple sugars) together and forming a complex molecule (in this case sugar). Monosaccharides are put together forming Disaccharides Table Sugar (sucrose) is a disaccharide.

Hydrolysis

Split apart polysaccharides Reverse of dehydration synthesis

Polysaccharides Putting together many monosaccharides Storage of sugars Starch (Plant) Glycogen (Animals)

Lipids Phat!

Lipids Waxy, Oily 3 Functions: –store energy –form membranes –chemical messengers

Lipids Fatty Acids and Glycerol = lipid Fatty acids are long chains of hydrogen and carbon atoms with a carboxyl group at one end. Glycerol – organic alcohol – 3C each attached to a hydroxyl group (-OH) - Triglyceride Adding two or three fatty acids to glycerol forms many lipids.

Lipids Saturated and Unsaturated Lipids Saturated – every carbon is attached to another carbon with a single bond – it has the maximum # of Hydrogen atoms Unsaturated – If any of the C are bonded with a double bond, the fatty acid is unsaturated Polyunsaturated – If the fatty acid contains several double bonds, it is polyunsaturated

Lipids ArrangementCharacteristics SaturatedNo Double Bonds  Solid at room Temp  From meats & dairy UnsaturatedOne double bond PolyunsaturatedSeveral double bonds  Liquid at room temp  Cooking oils  Good for you

Lipids Phospholipids – double ended molecule – one side dissolves in water the other side does not. Forms Cell Membranes Cholesterol is a sterol (type of lipid) – Important in cell membranes (keeps phospholipids from sticking together) excess cholesterol is a risk factor of heart disease (clogs arteries)

Proteins The meat of the matter!

Amino Acids Nitrogen containing Polymers of amino acids

Peptides Bond that joins two amino acids is called a Peptide Bond. Water molecule formed when peptide bond forms What do we call this? … Dehydration Synthesis

Peptide Bonds Peptide Bond

Polypeptides Polypeptide – long chain of peptides One or more polypeptide chains, and sometimes other chemical groups, form a Protein. Proteins are important for various reasons: –Help carry out chemical reactions –Pump small molecules out of cells –Ability of cells to move

Enzymes Make it happen!

Nucleic Acids Its all in the genes

Nucleic Acids RNA and DNA Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus atoms Polymers of nucleotides Nucleotides are 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. Nucleotides can be linked together to form polynucleotide. Store and transmit genetic information

Nucleic Acids