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TC 12 Carbon Based Molecules

Carbon is essential for life because it can form strong covalent bonds with many other elements, allowing it to make long chains and complex structures. The four main macromolecules that make up living organisms are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. Each is a polymer formed from smaller monomers: carbohydrates from simple sugars, lipids from fats and oils, nucleic acids from nucleotides, and proteins from amino acids. These macromolecules serve important functions like energy storage, structure of biological membranes, heredity, and metabolic processes.

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58 views5 pages

TC 12 Carbon Based Molecules

Carbon is essential for life because it can form strong covalent bonds with many other elements, allowing it to make long chains and complex structures. The four main macromolecules that make up living organisms are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. Each is a polymer formed from smaller monomers: carbohydrates from simple sugars, lipids from fats and oils, nucleic acids from nucleotides, and proteins from amino acids. These macromolecules serve important functions like energy storage, structure of biological membranes, heredity, and metabolic processes.

Uploaded by

sudersen
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Carbon The Element of Life

A. The Chemistry of Carbon


a. Carbon has 4 valence electrons allowing
them to form strong covalent bonds with
many other elements [ex. O, P, S, N, H]
b. Living Organisms are made up of
molecules that contain carbon because:
i. Can form long chains with other carbon
atoms
ii. Can form complex structures, making it
versatile
iii. Can form single, double, and/or triple
bonds
B. Macromolecules
a. Giant molecule that can be made up of
thousands of smaller molecules
i. Polymerization: process where large
compounds are built by joining smaller
ones together
1. Monomers: small units a puzzle piece
2. Polymers: chains of monomers the
whole puzzle

b.4 Main Types of Organic Macromolecules


i. Carbohydrates: Made of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen in a ratio 1:2:1
1. Main source of metabolism [energy]
2. Glucose is a simple sugar =
monosaccharide [glucose, fructose]
3. Complex carbohydrates = polysaccharide
[starch, cellulose, glycogen]
4. Below is Glucose [C6 H12 O6]
ii. Lipids: mostly made of [C] and [H]; fats, oils,
and waxes and do not dissolve in water
1. Used to store energy
2. Part of biological membranes
3. Used for waterproof covering
4. Saturated fats [contains max. Number of [H]
atoms (solid at room temperatures)
5. Polyunsaturated fats [contain one double bond
and are liquid at room temperature

iii.Nucleic acids: contains [C, H, O, N, P]


1. Are polymers formed by monomers known as
nucleotides [5 C, a phosphate group (-PO4 ) and
nitrogen base
2. Nucleic acids store and tranmit heredity or genetic
information [DNA, RNA]
iv. Proteins: contains [N, O, H, C] and are
polymers called amino acids [building blocks of
proteins]
1. Over 20 types of amino acids that form different
shaped proteins = different functions
2. Proteins control the rate of reactions, regulate cell
processes, transport substance in/out of the cell and
other help fight diseases

Vocabulary to Note:
Monomer
Polymer
Carbohydrate
Proteins
Lipids
Polyunsaccaride
Saccaride
Aminoacid
Nucleic acid
Nucleotide

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