1. Organic and Biochemical Compounds
Monomers and Polymers
Organic and Biochemical Compounds

2. Organic Compounds Are covalently bonded compounds made of molecules.
Contain Carbon and almost always Hydrogen.
Ex.’s Aspirin (C9H8O4) and Sugarless chewing gum contain the sweeteners sorbitol (C6H14O6) and aspartame (C14H18N2O5)
Carbon atoms form four covalent bond in organic compounds.

3. When a compound is only made of Carbon and Hydrogen we call it a hydrocarbon.
CH4 (methane) is the simplest hydrocarbon.
Carbon can form single, double, and triple bonds.
Ex. C-C, C=O, or

4. Polymers
What do the DNA inside the cells of your body, rubber, wood, and plastic milk jugs have in common????
A polymer is a large molecule that is formed by more than five monomers, or small units.
Many polymers have repeating subunits.
Ex. Polyethylene found milk cartons.

5. Some polymers are natural; others are man-made
Many man made polymers are usually plastics or fibers.
Ex. Polypropylene is molded to make plastic containers, some parts for cars, appliances, ropes, carpet, and artificial turf for athletic fields.

6. The elasticity of a polymer is determined by its structure
Polymers molecules are like long, thin chains.
Think of polymers as a bowl of spaghetti, the chains are tangled but can slide over each other.
Polymers are flexible but not elastic. You can crush or dent a milk jug because the plastic is flexible but once the jug is crushed it does not return to its original state.

7. Biochemical Compounds
Are naturally occurring organic compounds that are very important to living things.
Ex. Carbohydrates (give you energy), Proteins (from important parts of your body like muscles, tendons, fingernails, and hair).
Both Carbohydrates and proteins are called polymers.

8. Carbohydrates and Proteins
Many Carbohydrates are made of glucose.
Proteins are polymers of amino acids.
Amino acids are made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen.
There are 20 amino acids found as naturally occurring proteins found in your body.
Ex. Of amino acid is insulin.