1. Carbon Compounds Chapter 2-3

2. Carbon Compounds • Organic chemistry = study of carbon compounds • Carbon can bond with many other elements (hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, etc…) • Carbon can bond to other carbon atoms • No other element comes close to matching carbon’s versatility

3. Macromolecules • Carbon often forms long chains of atoms. • These “giant molecules” are called macromolecules. • These macromolecules are formed through a process called polymerization (monomers link together to form polymers)

4. Types of Organic Compounds • There are four groups of organic compounds found in living things: • Carbohydrates • Lipids • Nucleic Acids • Proteins

5. Carbohydrates • Made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in ratios of 1:2:1 • Living things use carbohydrates as their main source of energy. • Plants and some animals also use carbohydrates for structural purposes.

6. Carbohydrates • Carbohydrates = sugars • Simple carbs supply immediate energy for all cell activities. • Complex carbs (starches) store extra sugar for living things.

7. Carbohydrates • Monosaccharides = single sugar molecules • Examples: glucose, sucrose, fructose • Polysaccharides = large chains of sugar • Examples: glycogen (animal starch) and cellulose (plant starch)

8. Lipids • Made of extremely long chains of carbon and hydrogen • Examples: fats, oils, waxes • Lipids can be used to store energy. • Some lipids are important parts of biological membranes and waterproof coverings.

9. Nucleic Acids • Macromolecules made up of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus • Nucleic acids are put together by monomers called nucleotides. • The most famous nucleic acid is DNA.

10. Nucleic Acids • Nucleotides consist of 3 parts: • a 5-carbon sugar • a phosphate group • a nitrogenous (nitrogen containing) base

11. Nucleic Acids • Nucleic acids store and transmit hereditary (genetic) information. • There are 2 kinds of nucleic acids: • Ribonucleic acid (RNA), which contains the sugar ribose • Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which contains the sugar deoxyribose

12. Proteins • Macromolecules made up of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen • Proteins are polymers of molecules called amino acids. • There are more than 20 different amino acids found in nature.

13. Proteins • Proteins help to: • Carry out chemical reactions • Transport small molecules in and out of cells • Fight diseases

14. Proteins • Some proteins (enzymes) control the rate of reactions and regulate cell processes. • Some are used to form bones and muscles.

15. Conclusion • These four organic macromolecules are found in all living things: • Carbohydrates • Lipids • Nucleic Acids • Proteins