Introduction to organic chemistry

Organic comes from early 1800s when scientists

believed that some chemical substances were only found in living organisms Now organic chemistry is the study of all compounds that contain carbon

Why carbon is so unique

Carbon 6 2 inner electrons, 4 valence electrons Therefore, it can bond with many other elements because it has 4 electrons to share and 4 electrons that it needs

Why carbon is so unique

Can also bond easily

with other carbon atoms in single, double, or triple bonds

Forming long chains or rings

Carbon is the most

versatile element on earth

Common elements in living things

CHNOPS/(Ca)
Carbon Hydrogen

Nitrogen
Oxygen Phosphorous Sulfur Calcium

Macromolecules
macro = large May consist of thousands or even hundreds of

thousands of smaller molecules Formed by a process known as polymerization

Small molecules come together to make larger

molecules Small molecules = monomers Large molecules = polymers = macromolecules

Macromolecules
Most important polymers found in living things are

classified into four major groups

Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic acids

Carbohydrates
Living things use carbohydrates as their main source of

energy
Plants and some animals use them for structural

purposes
Two types: Sugars Starches (made from sugars)

Carbohydrates
General formula for carbohydrates = (CH2O)n
Where n can be any # Same as saying - 1:2:1 (C:H:O) ratio

Same as saying there is one water molecule

for every carbon atom carb hyrdate

Carbohydrates
Monomers of carbohydrates = monosaccharides

Sugars
Ex) glucose and fructose
They both have the same chemical formula:

C6H12O6 But, different chemical structures Because they have the same chemical formula, but different chemical structures, they are called isomers

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates
Polymers of carbohydrates = polysaccharides
Formed by long chains of monosaccharides Starches
Plants
For energy For structure amylopectin, amylose cellulose forms cell walls

Animals
glycogen chitin forms shells of crustaceans

Dehydration synthesis
How complex

carbohydrates form Water is removed to combine two molecules

Hydrolysis
How complex

carbohydrates are broken down Water is added to break a molecule apart

Lipids
Large and varied group of molecules
Generally NOT soluble in water (unlike

carbohydrates) Ex) Fats, oils, waxes, steroids Functions

Store energy Important parts of biological membranes Make up waterproof coverings Steroids chemical messengers

Triglycerides (Fats)
Glycerol 3 fatty acid chains Joined together by

dehydration synthesis
Hydroxyl group

Carboxyl group

Fatty acids

What are saturated fatty

acids saturated with?

Hydrogen atoms

Double bond

Why are unsaturated

fatty acids not saturated?

Because at least two

carbons are bonded together by a double bond, thereby using up bonds that could be made with hydrogen atoms

Phospholipid

Polar group - varies

Phospholipids

Checkpoint
How are phospholipids structurally different than

triglycerides?
Phospholipids only 2 fatty acid chains, have a

phosphate group attached to a polar group Triglycerides 3 fatty acid chains

Phospholipids: Hydrophobic = water hating Hydrophilic = water liking In phospholipids, the head is hydrophilic; the tails are hydrophobic.

Cell membrane

Cell membrane
Phospholipid bylayer

DNA & RNA

Nucleic Acids

Nucleotide

Proteins
Monomer = amino acids

Proteins
Amino acids can bond easily to other amino acids by

covalent bonds.
These special covalent bonds are called peptide bonds.

There are 20 amino acids used to make proteins. Therefore, there is a large variety of proteins that can be formed. Long chains of amino acids = polypeptides Polypeptide chains make up proteins

Protein functions
Help carry out chemical reactions (enzymes)
Pump small molecules in and out of cells Enable cells to move

Enable movement within cells

Structural components of claws, hooves, hair, tough

surface layer of skin Contraction of muscle Many hormones (chemical messengers) are proteins

The 20 amino acids

Dehydration synthesis of amino acids

Protein structure

This is a

This is a

This is a

This is the process known as

This is a

This is the process known as

This is a

This is a

This is a ______nucleotide
cytosine