Carbon Compounds

Learning Objectives• Describe the unique qualities of carbon.

• Describe the structures and functions of each of the four groups of macromolecules. For each macromolecule you will need to know:

The name of the monomer

Identify a picture of the monomer

Identify functional groups

The functions in living things

Examples of specific types of this organic compound.

Life’s molecular diversity is based on the properties of carbon

Chain Ring Branching chain

The Chemistry of Carbon

• : carbon based

• Carbon can make 4 covalent bonds

• The foundation of organic chemistry are

Made of carbon and hydrogen only

Non-polar therefore

Important Functional Groups in Carbon Compounds• Keep your eye out for these 5 functional groups (all are

polar and hydrophilic)

Macromolecules

• are very large molecules Ex. DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and fats

• Macromolecules are made by piecing small molecules ( ) into chains of repeating units ( )

• 2 important chemical reactions for making and breaking down macromolecules:

: building reaction, monomers are linked together into polymers (polymerization)

: breaking reaction, polymers are dissembled into monomers Animated

examples

Monomers

Polymer

(Sugars)

• Structure (what it is made of) C, H, O (usually following the ratio 1C:2H:1O)

Contain –OH groups and C=O groups

Monomers:

Polymers:

Often, names end in –ose

• Function (purpose) Energy

Structure (building material for cells)

Carbohydrates Examples

• (Quick Energy) Monosaccharides

(blood sugar)

(honey)

(made of 2 monosaccharides)

(table sugar): combination of fructose and glucose

(milk)

•

(Energy Storage and Structure) Made in animals:

(energy storage)

(structure)

Made in plants:

(energy storage)

(structure)

Lipids (Fats)• Structure:

Mostly C and H

Contain –OH and –COOH groups

Non-polar (hydrophobic)

(closest thing to a polymer)

(kind of a monomer)

Three (kind of a monomer)

• Functions

Energy storage

Chemical barriers

Waterproof coverings

Chemical messages (steroids)

Lipid Examples

• Triglycerides Store energy in adipose

(fat) cells

fatty acids

Contain at least 1 C-C double bond

Liquid at room temp

Ex. Oils

fatty acids

No double bonds

Solid at room temp

Ex. Butter

•

Protect plants and animals from water

• : fats that create barriers (membranes) in cells Made of 2 fatty acids (like in

triglycerides) and 1 phosphate group

Have a end and a hydrophobic hydrocarbon tail

•

Made of 4 fused carbon rings

Send messages in living things (testosterone and estrogen)

Nucleic Acids

•StructureContain C, H, O, N and P

Monomers are called and are made

of 3 smaller subunits:

Nitrogen base

Phosphate group

5-carbon sugar

Polymer:

• Functions and Examples Store and transmit

information ( and )

Acts as a battery for the cell ( )

Proteins Structure• Proteins are polymers made of monomers called

• All Amino acids have 3 functional groups and contain C, H, O and N

Carboxyl group (-COOH)

Amino group (-NH2))

(portion of the amino acid that makes each unique)

• AA can be joined using covalent bonds called , a chain of an amino acid is a

• The information for how to create the correct sequence of AA’s is contained in DNA

• There are 20 different AA

• AA have chemical diversity they can be…

Hydrophilic or Hydrophobic

Neutral, positively charged or negatively charged

Acidic/basic or neutral

Protein Function/Examples• : control the rate of reactions in the body ( )

• Regulate processes in the body ( )

• Building material ( )

• Transportation of materials ( )

• Fight disease ( )

A Protein’s Shape Meets its Function• The shape of a protein is what determines its specific function

because most proteins recognize and bind to some other molecule in order to function.

• 4 levels of protein structure:

: The sequence of the amino acids

: local patterns of folding

Alpha helix

Beta sheet

: overall three dimensional shape of a polypeptide

: when proteins consist of two or more polypeptide chains, or subunits – quaternary structure results from how the subunits fit together.