Chemistry of LifeChemistry of LifeEssential Question: What chemicals build living things? Essential Question: What chemicals build living things?

What is biochemistry?What is biochemistry?

• The branch of chemistry that studies organic compounds

• The branch of chemistry that studies organic compounds

What is an organic compound?What is an organic compound?

• Any compound containing Carbon• Any compound containing Carbon

Why is life based on carbon?Why is life based on carbon?

Carbon is found in all living things!

Carbon is not stable by itself

Carbon can make four bonds

Carbon is found in all living things!

Carbon is not stable by itself

Carbon can make four bonds

Carbon loves bonding! Carbon loves bonding!

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypbb9Zi5Tao

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOJ3MUpDrfI

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypbb9Zi5Tao

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOJ3MUpDrfI

What 6 elements does carbon bond with to build living things? C-H-N-O-P-S

What 6 elements does carbon bond with to build living things? C-H-N-O-P-S

Carbon

Hydrogen

Nitrogen

Oxygen

Phosphorus

Sulfur

Carbon

Hydrogen

Nitrogen

Oxygen

Phosphorus

Sulfur

DNADNA

Carbon combines with elements to build huge moleculesCarbon combines with elements to build huge molecules

• We call these huge molecules “Macromolecules”

• We call these huge molecules “Macromolecules”

Macromolecules are made of smaller subunitsMacromolecules are made of smaller subunits

These subunits are called Monomers

Monomers bond together to form polymers

These subunits are called Monomers

Monomers bond together to form polymers

PolymerizationPolymerization

Building important polymersBuilding important polymers

sugar – sugar – sugar – sugar – sugar – sugar

nucleotide – nucleotide – nucleotide – nucleotide

Carbohydrates = built from sugars

Proteins = built from amino acids

Nucleic acids (DNA) = built from nucleotides

aminoacid

aminoacid–

aminoacid–

aminoacid–

aminoacid–

aminoacid–

Let’s focus on 4 basic carbon-based macromolecules found in all living things:

Let’s focus on 4 basic carbon-based macromolecules found in all living things:

Carbohydrates

Lipids

Proteins

Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates

Lipids

Proteins

Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates: CHOCarbohydrates: CHO

Living things use carbohydrates as

their main source of energy

Example: starch & glucose (sugar) used for energy in cells.

Living things use carbohydrates as

their main source of energy

Example: starch & glucose (sugar) used for energy in cells.

What carbs do you eat?What carbs do you eat?

Lipids: CHOLipids: CHO

Lipids (continued)Lipids (continued)

Lipids can be used to store energy in fats. They make up membranes of cells. They are the waxy coating on leaves and bird feathers.

Lipids can be used to store energy in fats. They make up membranes of cells. They are the waxy coating on leaves and bird feathers.

Proteins:CHONSProteins:CHONS

Proteins: (cont.)Proteins: (cont.)

Proteins are built from molecules called amino acids

Proteins are important in all cell processes, forming bones & muscles, transporting stuff in and out of cells

Proteins are built from molecules called amino acids

Proteins are important in all cell processes, forming bones & muscles, transporting stuff in and out of cells

Enzymes are important proteinsEnzymes are important proteins

Nucleic Acids- CHNOP

• Nucleic acids are DNA and RNA

• Nucleic Acids store genetic information

• Nucleic acids are built from monomers called nucleotides

• Nucleic acids are DNA and RNA

• Nucleic Acids store genetic information

• Nucleic acids are built from monomers called nucleotides

Polymer Monomer

polysaccharidesmonosaccharide

s

triglycerideFatty Acids +

glycerol

Protein/polypeptide

Amino Acids

DNA/RNA Nucleotides

Remember: Monomers bond

together to make polymers.

Chemical bonds are ENERGY!

Remember: Monomers bond

together to make polymers.

Chemical bonds are ENERGY!

ReviewReview

What are the chemicals of life?

What is the one element necessary for life?

What are the 4 organic compounds that can be found in living things?

The more chemical bonds, the more _______.

What are the chemicals of life?

What is the one element necessary for life?

What are the 4 organic compounds that can be found in living things?

The more chemical bonds, the more _______.

Name the Name the macromolecule!macromolecule!Name the Name the macromolecule!macromolecule!