Basic ChemistryBasic Chemistry

Biochemistry: Essentials for Biochemistry: Essentials for LifeLife

Organic compoundsOrganic compounds– Contain carbonContain carbon– Most are covalently bondedMost are covalently bonded

– Example: CExample: C66HH1212OO66 (glucose) (glucose)

Inorganic compoundsInorganic compounds– Lack carbonLack carbon– Tend to be simpler compoundsTend to be simpler compounds

– Example: HExample: H22O (water)O (water)

Important Inorganic Important Inorganic CompoundsCompounds

WaterWater– Most abundant inorganic compoundMost abundant inorganic compound– Vital propertiesVital properties

High heat capacityHigh heat capacity Polarity/solvent propertiesPolarity/solvent properties Chemical reactivityChemical reactivity CushioningCushioning

Important Inorganic Important Inorganic CompoundsCompounds

SaltsSalts– Easily dissociate into ions in the Easily dissociate into ions in the

presence of waterpresence of water– Vital to many body functionsVital to many body functions– Include electrolytes which conduct Include electrolytes which conduct

electrical currentselectrical currents

Dissociation of a Salt in Dissociation of a Salt in WaterWater

Figure 2.11

Important Inorganic Important Inorganic CompoundsCompounds

AcidsAcids– Release hydrogen ions (HRelease hydrogen ions (H++))– Are proton donorsAre proton donors

BasesBases– Release hydroxyl ions (OHRelease hydroxyl ions (OH––))– Are proton acceptorsAre proton acceptors

Neutralization reactionNeutralization reaction– Acids and bases react to form water and a Acids and bases react to form water and a

saltsalt

Figure 2.12

pHpH

Measures relative Measures relative concentration of concentration of hydrogen ionshydrogen ions– pH 7 = neutralpH 7 = neutral– pH below 7 = acidicpH below 7 = acidic– pH above 7 = basicpH above 7 = basic– Buffers—chemicals Buffers—chemicals

that can regulate that can regulate pH changepH change

Important Organic Important Organic CompoundsCompounds

CarbohydratesCarbohydrates– Contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygenContain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen– Include sugars and starchesInclude sugars and starches– Classified according to sizeClassified according to size

Monosaccharides—simple sugarsMonosaccharides—simple sugars Disaccharides—two simple sugars joined by Disaccharides—two simple sugars joined by

dehydration synthesisdehydration synthesis Polysaccharides—long-branching chains of Polysaccharides—long-branching chains of

linked simple sugarslinked simple sugars

CarbohydratesCarbohydrates

Figure 2.13a–b

CarbohydratesCarbohydrates

Figure 2.13c

CarbohydratesCarbohydrates

Figure 2.14

Important Organic Important Organic CompoundsCompounds

LipidsLipids– Contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygenContain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Carbon and hydrogen outnumber oxygenCarbon and hydrogen outnumber oxygen

– Insoluble in waterInsoluble in water

LipidsLipids

Common lipids in the human bodyCommon lipids in the human body– Neutral fats (triglycerides)Neutral fats (triglycerides)

Found in fat depositsFound in fat deposits Composed of fatty acids and glycerolComposed of fatty acids and glycerol Source of stored energySource of stored energy

LipidsLipids

Figure 2.15a

LipidsLipids

Common lipids in the human body Common lipids in the human body (continued)(continued)– PhospholipidsPhospholipids

Form cell membranesForm cell membranes

– SteroidsSteroids Include cholesterol, bile salts, vitamin D, and Include cholesterol, bile salts, vitamin D, and

some hormonessome hormones

LipidsLipids

Figure 2.15b

Figure 2.15c

LipidsLipids

CholesterolCholesterol– The basis for all steroids made in the The basis for all steroids made in the

bodybody

Important Organic Important Organic CompoundsCompounds

ProteinsProteins– Made of amino acidsMade of amino acids

Contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, Contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfurand sometimes sulfur

Figure 2.16

ProteinsProteins

Account for over half of the body’s Account for over half of the body’s organic matterorganic matter– Provide for construction materials for Provide for construction materials for

body tissuesbody tissues– Play a vital role in cell functionPlay a vital role in cell function

Act as enzymes, hormones, and Act as enzymes, hormones, and antibodiesantibodies

ProteinsProteins

Amino acid structureAmino acid structure– Contain an amine group (NHContain an amine group (NH22))

– Contain an acid group (COOH)Contain an acid group (COOH)– Vary only by R groupsVary only by R groups

Figure 2.17a

ProteinsProteins

Fibrous proteinsFibrous proteins– Also known as Also known as

structural proteinsstructural proteins– Appear in body Appear in body

structuresstructures– Examples include Examples include

collagen and collagen and keratinkeratin

– StableStable

Figure 2.17b

ProteinsProteins

Globular proteinsGlobular proteins– Also known as Also known as

functional functional proteinsproteins

– Function as Function as antibodies or antibodies or enzymesenzymes

– Can be Can be denatureddenatured

Figure 2.18a

EnzymesEnzymes

Act as biological catalystsAct as biological catalysts Increase the rate of chemical Increase the rate of chemical

reactionsreactions

Important Organic Important Organic CompoundsCompounds

Nucleic AcidsNucleic Acids– Provide blueprint of lifeProvide blueprint of life– Nucleotide basesNucleotide bases

A = AdenineA = Adenine G = GuanineG = Guanine C = CytosineC = Cytosine T = ThymineT = Thymine U = UracilU = Uracil

– Make DNA and RNAMake DNA and RNAFigure 2.19a

Nucleic AcidsNucleic Acids

Deoxyribonucleic Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)acid (DNA)– Organized by Organized by

complimentary complimentary bases to form bases to form double helixdouble helix

– Replicates before Replicates before cell divisioncell division

– Provides instructions Provides instructions for every protein in for every protein in the bodythe body Figure 2.19c

Important Organic Important Organic CompoundsCompounds

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)– Chemical energy used by all cellsChemical energy used by all cells– Energy is released by breaking high Energy is released by breaking high

energy phosphate bondenergy phosphate bond– ATP is replenished by oxidation of food ATP is replenished by oxidation of food

fuelsfuels

Adenosine Triphosphate Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)(ATP)

Figure 2.20a