1. Organic Compounds

2. Macromolecules Made from hundreds or thousands of smaller molecules.
Organic chemistry is the study of all compounds that contain bonds between CARBON atoms.
Polymerization: when large compounds are built by joining smaller ones together.
The smaller units, called monomers, join together to form polymers.
Macromolecules are classified into groups:
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleic acids
Proteins

3. Carbohydrates
made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, usually in a ratio of 1:2:1
main source of energy
Also used for structural purposes
Monosaccharides: single sugar molecules.
Polysaccharides: numerous monosaccharides together.
Starches and sugars

4. Lipids Composed of carbon and hydrogen molecules
Include fats, oils, and waxes
used to store energy
Some are important parts of biological membranes and waterproof coverings
serve as chemical messengers
form when glycerol combines with fatty acids

5. Nucleic Acids
contain hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus
Assembled from nucleotides.
Nucleotides: consist of three parts: a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
store and transmit hereditary, or genetic, information.
RNA (ribonucleic acid)
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

6. Proteins contain nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Proteins are polymers of molecules called amino acids.
Amino acids: compounds with an amino group on one end and a carboxyl group on the other.
More than 20 amino acids are found in nature.
All amino acids are the same besides the R-group.
Each protein has a specific role.
Some proteins control the rate of reactions and regulate cell processes
Some are used to form bones and muscles
Others transport substances into or out of cells or help to fight diseases