1. 2.3 Carbon-based Molecules
How is carbon different from other atoms?
Why is it essential to living things?
2.3 Carbon-based Molecules
Key Concept: Carbon-based molecules are the basis of life.

2. Carbon atoms have unique bonding properties.
Carbon forms covalent bonds (strong bonds) with up to four other atoms, including other carbon atoms
Carbon-based molecules have three general types of structures
Straight chain
Branched chain (3-D structures)
Ring

3. Carbon atoms have unique bonding properties.
Carbon can form single, double, or triple bonds
Carbon forms isomers
Isomers are compounds that have the same chemical formula, but different structural formulas
Example: C4H10
Only carbon has these characteristics

4. Many carbon-based molecules are made of many small subunits bonded together.
Monomers are the individual subunits.
Polymers are made of many monomers.

5. Four main types of carbon-based molecules are found in living things.
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic acids

6. Carbohydrates Molecule  Carbohydrates Has Carbon All of the time
Has Hydrogen
All of the time 
Has Oxygen
Has Nitrogen  -
Has Phosphorus
Monomer
 monosaccharide
Polymer
disaccharide (dimer), polysaccharide 
Examples
Monosaccharide:  glucose, fructose
Disaccharide: sucrose (table sugar)
Polysaccharide: starch & cellulose (cell wall in plants),
glycogen (in animals)
Unique
Provide a quick source of energy

7. Lipids Molecule  Lipids Has Carbon All of the time Has Hydrogen
Has Oxygen
Has Nitrogen
 Some of the time
Has Phosphorus
Some of the time 
Monomer
 glycerol & fatty acids; polar heads & fatty acid tails
Polymer
 triglycerides; phospholipids
Examples
Fats, oils, cholesterol, steroids, waxes, phospholipids
Unique
Nonpolar
Broken down to provide energy
Used to make steroid hormones (control stress, estrogen, testosterone)
Phospholipids make up all cell membranes  
Fats and oils contain fatty acids bonded to glycerol

8. Proteins Molecule  Proteins Has Carbon All of the time Has Hydrogen
Has Oxygen
Has Nitrogen
Has Phosphorus - 
Monomer
Amino acid 
Polymer
Polypeptide (protein) 
Examples
Enzymes,  hemoglobin (in blood), muscle movement, collagen
Unique
3D structure makes them active 
Peptide bonds hold amino acids together
Have a side group (R) that makes each amino acid (and therefore protein) different
Sometimes may contain sulfur

9. Nucleic acids Molecule  Nucleic acids Has Carbon All of the time
Has Hydrogen
All of the time 
Has Oxygen
Has Nitrogen
Has Phosphorus
Monomer
 Nucleotide (5-carbon sugar, phosphate group, & base)
Polymer
Nucleic acid 
Examples
DNA & RNA 
Unique
 - Order of the bases makes every living thing unique
DNA stores genetic information
RNA builds proteins

10. Building & Using Carbon-based Molecules
Building (process): dehydration synthesis
Removal of water to make a new product
Using (process): hydrolysis
Breaking apart using water

11. Dehydration Synthesis
Two monomers need to join
One monomer loses (-OH) and one loses (-H)
The two monomers join and the (-OH) and (-H) join, forming H2O
A-OH + B-H  AB + HOH (H2O)
Click on slide title for animation

12. Hydrolysis
A polymer needs to break apart (the carbs, proteins, and lipids we ingest are too big for us to use)
Water breaks apart into (-OH) and (-H) and splits the polymer into monomers
The (-OH) and (-H) bond to each monomer to make them stable molecules
AB + HOH (H2O)  A-OH + B-H

13. Macromolecules Gone Wild (Bio Style)
What’s in a mixture?
What’s in a molecule?
Macromolecules Gone Wild (Bio Style)
Gangnam parody