Organic molecules Biochemistry part 2

Acids and Bases

• Hydroxide Ion: OH⁻• Hydronium Ion: H₃O⁺

Acids

• Acids: the number of hydronium ions is greater than the number of hydroxide ions• Net + charge• Hydrochloric Acid• Citric acid• Stomach acid• Lemon juice

Bases

• Bases: the number of hydroxide ions is greater than the number of hydronium ions• Net negative charge• Ammonia• Baking soda• Milk of magnesia• Soap

Why are acids and bases important to living things?

• Organisms cannot live in acidic or basic environments• They need to regulate acids and bases in their bodies

Carbon Compounds• Organic Compounds: molecules that

contain carbon• Inorganic Compounds: molecules that usually do not contain carbon• organic compounds

• biological molecules• 10:44 proteins • Lipids:

Carbohydrates• Carbohydrates: organic compounds made of carbon,

hydrogen, and oxygen that provides energy for cells• Food examples: bread, candy, pasta, popcorn,

vegetables

Monosaccharide: one sugar• Monosaccharide: one sugar molecule = C₆H₁₂O₆• Examples: Fructose (fruit sugar), glucose, galactose

Disaccharide: 2 sugars

• Disaccharide: two monosaccharides joined together C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁• Examples: Sucrose (table sugar), lactose (milk

sugar)

Polysaccharide: many sugars• Polysaccharide: complex sugar: many sugars in a

long chain• Examples: Glycogen, cellulose and starch

Proteins• Proteins: organic compounds that provide structure

and make enzymes• Meat, eggs, beans, fish, cheese

Amino Acids

• The building blocks of proteins • 20 are essential for life

Enzymes• Enzymes: proteins that act as biological catalysts• Catalysts: substances that speed up chemical

reactions• Enzymes only work in normal living conditions

Enzymesenzymes2

Lipids • Lipids: hydrophobic organic compounds that store

energy and build cell membranes• Oil, butter, cream, cheese

Fatty Acids• Fatty Acids: long hydro-carbon chains that can be

saturated with hydrogen atoms or not saturated with hydrogen atoms

Fatty Acids Cont…• Saturated: straight hydrocarbon chains usually found

in solid form • butter, cheese, meat, eggs, milk, coconut oil

Fatty Acids Cont…• Unsaturated: bent hydrocarbon chains usually found

in liquid form• oils, olives, avocados, fish oil

Lipids• Triglycerides (FATS): 3 fatty acids joined to a glycerol• Food Examples: Butter, meat, cheese, oil

Phospholipids• Phospholipids: two fatty acids attached to a glycerol• Makes up cell membranes

Waxes • Waxes: long fatty acid chain that protect and provide

structure• Examples: Plant leaves, ear wax

Steroids• Steroids: lipids that make up hormones and

cholesterol that helps in nerve function• obesity•

Nucleic Acids• Nucleic Acids: organic molecules that store and

transfer information in cells• Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): stores information• Ribonucleic acid (RNA): transfers information from

DNA to the cell• Nucleotide: building blocks of DNA