Transcript Macromolecules

Carbon!
Why it’s cool, and
what it can do
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ORGANIC = FROM A LIVING
SOURCE, OR CONTAINING
CARBON
• The fact that Carbon needs 4 electrons to
complete its valence shell means it has 4
“connection spots”
• It can also do neat things like:
– form long chains or rings
– form especially strong & stable bonds
(covalent)
– Can be the “anchor piece” for very large
molecules
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Carbon Ring
Carbon Chains
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Monomers & Polymers:
when carbons get together
• Monomer: small, simple molecule
(beads)
• Polymer: larger, more complex
molecules made from monomers strung
together. (necklace)
monomer + monomer + monomer =
Polymer
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Very large polymers made from Carbonbased chains are called
MACROMOLECULES
“Macro” = giant
(so, “giant molecule”)
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How do monomers come together
to form a polymer?
Dehydration
Synthesis:
This is a chemical reaction
where two monomers join
together and release
water.
Dehydration synthesis is a
“building up” or anabolic
reaction.
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How do polymers break down into
monomers?
Hydrolysis:
This is a chemical reaction in which water is
added and splits a polymer back into
monomers.
Hydrolysis is a “breaking down” or catabolic
reaction.
Dehydration Synthesis-Hydrolysis
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MACROMOLECULES come in
different varieties
4 important groups:
–Carbohydrates
–Proteins
–Lipids
–Nucleic Acids
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What type of macromolecule
is shown here?
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Carbohydrates
• Monomer = monosaccharide
–Ex: glucose, sucrose, fructose
• Function: energy, structure, fuel
storage, strength
• Example: Sugar,
• cellulose Polysaccharide
• (crunchy part of plants), starch
(plant energy storage), glycogen
(animal muscle energy)
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What type is
shown here?
(Okay, there a
few “hints”.)
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Proteins
• Monomer = amino acid
• Function
– Structure (bones, muscles, etc.)
– Fight disease
– Control rates of reaction
– Transport substances in & out of the cell
Example: Insulin, hormones (chemical
messengers)
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What type of
macromolecule
is shown here?
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Lipids
• Monomer: fatty acids on a “glycerol
backbone”
• Function:
–
–
–
–
Chemical messengers (steroids)
Insulation and cushioning
Compact, long-lasting energy source
Make up cell membrane
–
–
–
–
–
Triglycerides (fats)
Phospholipids (cell membrane fats)
Wax
Oils
Steroids
• Examples:
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Saturated fats have only single bonds in their fatty acid
“tail”.
Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds in their
fatty acid tail.
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Can you identify this type of macromolecule?
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Nucleic Acids
• Monomer = nucleotide
• Function:
– Store & transmit Hereditary information
– Direct growth & development
– Use to construct proteins (RNA)
Examples: DNA and RNA
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