2.3 Carbon-based Molecules

1. How is carbon different from other atoms? Why is it essential to living things? 2.3 Carbon-based Molecules Key Concept: Carbon-based molecules are the basis of life.

2. Carbon atoms have unique bonding properties. • Carbon forms covalent bonds (strong bonds) with up to four other atoms, including other carbon atoms • Carbon-based molecules have three general types of structures • Straight chain • Branched chain (3-D structures) • Ring

3. Carbon atoms have unique bonding properties. • Carbon can form single, double, or triple bonds • Carbon forms isomers • Isomers are compounds that have the same chemical formula, but different structural formulas • Example: C4H10 • Only carbon has these characteristics

4. Many carbon-based molecules are made of many small subunits bonded together. • Monomers are the individual subunits. • Polymers are made of many monomers.

5. Four main types of carbon-based molecules are found in living things. • Carbohydrates • Lipids • Proteins • Nucleic acids

6. Carbohydrates

7. Lipids

8. Proteins

9. Nucleic acids

10. Building & Using Carbon-based Molecules • Building (process): dehydration synthesis • Removal of water to make a new product • Using (process): hydrolysis • Breaking apart using water

11. Dehydration Synthesis • Two monomers need to join • One monomer loses (-OH) and one loses (-H) • The two monomers join and the (-OH) and (-H) join, forming H2O • A-OH + B-H  AB + HOH (H2O)

12. Hydrolysis • A polymer needs to break apart (the carbs, proteins, and lipids we ingest are too big for us to use) • Water breaks apart into (-OH) and (-H) and splits the polymer into monomers • The (-OH) and (-H) bond to each monomer to make them stable molecules • AB + HOH (H2O)  A-OH + B-H

13. What’s in a mixture? • What’s in a molecule? • Macromolecules Gone Wild (Bio Style) • Gangnam parody