Organic Compounds

  • Basic Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic Acids
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Basic Chemistry

Atoms

Atoms are the basic unit of chemistry. They consist of 3 smaller things:

  • Protons - these are positively charged (+)
  • Electrons - these are negatively charged (-)
  • Neutrons - these have no charge

These 3 smaller particles are arranged in a particular way. In the center is the Nucleus where you find the positive Protons and neutral Neutrons.

Hooking Stuff Together

Chemical bonds are formed when the electrons in an atom interact with the electrons in another atom. This allows for the formation of more complex molecules.

Breaking bonds apart releases energy and putting them together requires energy. 

 

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Inorganic molecules

Inorganic molecules are molecules which do not contain carbon and are not found in living things. 

There are two exceptions to this rule: Carbon dioxide (CO2) & Carbon monoxide (CO). 

There are several common inorganic molecules:

  1. Oxygen--O2--Main product of photosynthesis and needed for cellular respiration and breathing in animals. 
  2. Water--H2O--Involved with keeping body temperature regulated, protection for the eyes, needed for digestion of food, and transport of materials through cells.   Although inorganic it is one of the most important molecules for life to occur. 
  3. Carbon dioxide--CO2--product of cellular respiration (and breathing) in animals.  Too much is toxic.  
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ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Organic molecules contain Carbon.   Inorganic molecules do not.

Four Organic Compounds

There are 4 basic organic compounds used to build cells:

  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Proteins are used to make Enzymes
  • Nucleic Acids
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CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates are used for energy production and to build necessary cell components.                   

Table sugar is an example of a carbohydrate.   When you eat something with sugar in it, a few minutes later, your body feels full of energy. 
 
Another example would be glucose.  Glucose is a carbohydrate that is made by plants for food and used to make energy in our bodies. 

. 

Starch and Cellulose only differ in how the carbohydrates are linked together. 

 Wood is a polysaccharide called cellulose.

 Potatoes are full of polysaccharide full of starch.

Even though both of these are carbohydrates,  they are VERY different.  You can eat a TON of potatoes.  Wood, is not digestable by humans.  The reason they are different is how the molecules are arranged together. 

Jobs of Carbohydrates:

  • Energy:  Stores energy both for short term--glucose--and long term--starches  
  • Support:  Cellulose is hard & strong for support. 

table sugar, wood, potatoes
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Common examples of lipids: olive oil, butter, and cell membranes

LIPIDS

There are three types of lipids: fatty acids, triglycerides and phospholipids.

Butter and oils are both examples of lipids. 

The cell membrane--the stucture which surrounds the cell--is also made up of lipids.

Lipids (Fats) have a variety of jobs in cells and our bodies. 

  • They store energy for use later--FAT cells!!!
  • They  lubricate joints in our body. 
  • They make up cell membranes.
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Different types of proteins: Meats, enzymes, and hemoglobin in red blood cells

PROTEINS

Proteins are made by building long chains of amino acids. 

Certain foods we eat are examples of proteins.  Foods such as, lean meats, cheese, milk, and tofu.   The food contains LARGE amounts of proteins.   The proteins help make these food nutritous for our bodies. 

 Our muscles are also examples of proteins. 

Another example is hemoglobin in our red blood cells.   Hemoglobin is a storage protein which helps collect oxygen for our bodies. 

 

Proteins also help speed up things that take place in your body.   These types of proteins are called enzymes.   Think of enzymes as "fast-forward" proteins.   They make things happen faster. 

Two example of enzymes you might use are oxiclean and meat tenderizer. 

Oxiclean and meat tenderizer speed up the process of making proteins softer.  With oxiclean, this means the stain is easier to get out of your clothes.   With the meat tenderizer, it makes the meat easier to eat. 

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DNA

NUCLEIC ACIDS

DNA and RNA are used to direct the activity of cells.

DNA = Deoxyribosenucleic acid

RNA = Ribonucleic acid

Cells look and function a certain way because of directions contained in the DNA.  

DNA is commonly called a double helix.   This is becuase it has two sides and is twisted together like a spiral staircase.

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