Carbon and life: Organic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry is scary

Carbon atom

CCarbon atom

Methane

Ethane

Ethene (ethylene)

Hydrocarbons

C H

High energy bond

Carbon - Hydrogen

Macromolecules

*proteins*nucleic acids*carbohydrates*Lipids

4 Types

Macromolecules

*proteins*nucleic acids*carbohydrates*Lipids

4 Types

polymers

Polymer Chemistrymonomers

(individual)

polymer

(joined)

Momomers

Polymer

Making and breaking the bonds

Short polymer Unlinked monomer

Dehydration removes a watermolecule, forming a new bond

Longer polymer

Making the bond

dehydration

Hydrolysis adds a watermolecule, breaking a bond

Breaking the bond

hydrolysis

Polymers

Polymer bonds involve water

Kangaroo Rat

Survives on metabolic water

ProteinMonomers =

amino acids

Polymer = protein

Protein

amino acids

Protein

20 amino acids

Protein

Polymer formation Dehydration

reaction

Proteins are long chains of amino acids

Protein

20 amino acids

A ribbon model

Groove

Groove

A space-filling model

Protein function is determined by its shape.

Protein shape is determined by its amino acids.

Protein shape is determined by its amino acids.

Protein

Global Warming

Coral “bleaching”

Nucleic AcidsMonomers =

nucleotides

Polymer = DNA, RNA

Nucleic Acids

Nucleotide (monomer)

5 bases

DNA

“double helix”

DNA

RNAsingle-stranded

Carbohydrates

Monomers = simple sugars

Polymer = carbohydrates

Carbohydrates

CarbohydratesA simple sugar (monosaccharide)

glucose

Carbs are rich in C – H bonds

Sucrose or table sugar

CarbohydratesStarch: A polymer of glucose molecules

Starch: 1–4 linkage of a glucose monomers.

Cellulose: 1–4 linkage of b glucose monomers.

Starch

cellulose

Glucose polymers

Cellulose

Starch

Lipids

Lipids

LipidsHard fats

oils

saturated

unsaturated

Lipids