Chapter 24 - Organic & Biochemistry

The bonding characteristics of carbon allow the formation of many different organic molecules of varied sizes, shapes, and chemical properties and provide the biochemical basis of life.

Organic Compounds – carbon containing compounds. Carbon makes 4 bonds with other atoms typically by sharing electrons in covalent bonds. It can make single, double, or triple bonds with itself or other elements so that it achieves the octet of valence electrons.

1. Carbon can make bonds with itself to form large chains, rings, and branched structures.
2. Due to the ability for carbon to bond to itself repeatedly, it results in the formation of a large variety of structures ranging from simple hydrocarbons to complex polymers and biological molecules.

Polymer – large molecules formed by combining many repeating structural units (monomers). Repetitive combinations of simple subunits.

Examples: proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates (like starch)

Biological Polymers:

Proteins – organic polymers made up of amino acids linked together in a specific way. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.

Polysaccharide Carbohydrates – a polymer of simple sugars that contain 12 or more repeating units. Examples: starch, cellulose, glycogen

Nucleic Acids – nitrogen containing biological polymer that is made up of monomers called nucleotides.