Organic Compounds in Chemistry

Introduction

• Focus on organic vs inorganic compounds
• Main difference: organic contains carbon
• Organic compounds include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, nucleic acids
• Uniqueness in living things

Concept of Polymers

• Polymers: chains or building blocks linked together
• Example: Amino acids form proteins
• Synthesis involves dehydration synthesis (removes water)
• Breakdown involves hydrolysis (adds water)

Example of Dehydration and Hydrolysis

• Dehydration Synthesis: Combines glucose and fructose into sucrose + water
• Hydrolysis: Breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose by adding water

Carbohydrates

• Hydrated carbons, known as sugars and starches
• Simple and complex carbohydrates
• Contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
• Formula: C(H2O)n

Classes of Carbohydrates

• Monosaccharides: Simple sugars (e.g., glucose)
• Disaccharides: Double sugars (e.g., sucrose)
• Polysaccharides: Multiple sugars; e.g., glycogen is stored in muscle

Functions of Carbohydrates

• Major source of fuel (broken down to glucose for ATP)
• Structural molecules (e.g., ribose in RNA)
• Storage as glycogen in muscles/liver

Lipids

• Another term for fat
• Contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen; sometimes phosphorus
• Insoluble in water

Types of Lipids

• Triglycerides: Energy source; protects organs and insulates
• Phospholipids: Found in cell membrane
• Steroids: Include cholesterol, hormones
• Eicosanoids: Local hormones

Fatty Acids

• Saturated Fatty Acids: Single bonds, max hydrogen; solid fats like butter
• Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Double bonds, less hydrogen; plant oils like olive oil
• Trans Fats: Manufactured fats, harmful, now mostly avoided

Proteins

• Can be broken down for energy
• Structural and functional roles
• Most abundant organic compound

Functions of Proteins

• Support, metabolic regulation, movement, coordination, transport, defense, buffering

Protein Structure

• Composed of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
• Dehydration synthesis forms dipeptides
• Hydrolysis breaks down into amino acids

Categories of Proteins

• Fibrous Proteins: Structural, insoluble, stable (e.g., keratin, collagen)
• Globular Proteins: Functional, soluble (e.g., antibodies, hormones, enzymes)

Nucleic Acids

• Includes DNA and RNA
• Largest molecules in the body

DNA

• Double helix, found in cell nucleus
• Provides instructions for proteins
• Capable of replication for cell division and repair

RNA

• Single-stranded
• Bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil
• Can be in/out nucleus

Types of RNA

• Messenger RNA (mRNA): Takes DNA message to ribosomes
• Transfer RNA (tRNA): Brings amino acids to ribosomes
• Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): Assists in ribosome building

End of lecture.