Carbon in Life and Materials

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C

Carbon

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Organic Compounds

Organic Compounds: Contain carbon-hydrogen

bonds Often contain N, S, P Major types:

carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Are not just living things but can also be made in a lab…example: sugar

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Inorganic Compounds

Inorganic Compounds: Substances that do not

have carbon-hydrogen bonds

Not normally found in living things

Examples minerals, metals, and salts

Exceptions to the rule: (all inorganic) Diamonds (C), graphite

(C), carbon dioxide (CO2)

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Carbon forms many different compounds

Large variety of compounds results from the number of bonds that each carbon atom can form

Carbon atoms always share four pairs of electrons in four covalent bonds Single bond Double bond Triple bond

Carbon-based molecules can have many structures

Chains Carbon atoms can

bond together to form chains that are straight or branched

Rings Carbon rings contain

at least 5 carbon atoms

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Isomers

Isomer: compounds that contain the same atoms, but in different places

Both have 4 Carbonsand 10 Hydrogens

Butane Isobutane

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Carbon-based molecules are life’s building blocks

Carbon-based molecules have many functions in living things Similarities

All contain carbon and hydrogen or oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus.

Large molecules

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Life’s Carbon-based molecules

Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic acids

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Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate: contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen…examples: sugars, starches, and cellulose. Sugar: glucose C6H12O6

Cells in both plants and animals break down glucose for energy

Starch: many glucose moleculesWhen starch is broken down many glucose

molecules are broken down and used for energy

Cellulose: plant cell wallsCarbohydrate that is composed of glucose

Lipids Lipid: fats and oils that are used for energy and as

structural materials in living things Made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen Structure different from carbohydrates Animals store chemical energy in fat

Fat…saturated and unsaturated Saturated: all the bonds in the lipid are single, most animal

fats…too much saturated fat could lead to heart disease Unsaturated: one or more bonds in lipid are double

Cholesterol lipid that is part of cell membranes Makes hormones (chemical messengers in your body)

Proteins

Proteins: macromolecules (large) that are made up of amino acids Contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,

sulfur, and other elements Many different functions

Function based on order of amino acids 20 different amino acids make up the proteins in your

body Function is based on structure

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids: huge, complex carbon-based molecules that contain information that cells use to make proteins Made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and

phosphorus Each cell in your body contains a complete set of

nucleic acids…so each cell has all of the instructions it needs to make the proteins your body needs

DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid

…nucleic acid that contains the genetic code Sides of ladder made of

sugar and phosphate Rungs (steps) are made

up of cytosine (C), guanine (G), adenine (A), Thymine (T). C and G always pair A and T always pair

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Carbon-based molecules

Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic Acids

Sugars and starchesEnergy for cellsPlant cell walls

Include fats and oilsEnergy for cellsCell membranes

Function depends on order of amino acidsStructure, transport, immune system, enzymes

DNACarries genetic codeSequence of three DNA bases is the code for an amino acid

Carbon Cycle

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Carbon-based molecules in many materials

Hydrocarbon: a compound made of hydrogen and carbon Found in large deposits (petroleum)

Polymers Very large carbon-based molecules made of

smaller repeating units (monomers) Formation by chemical reactions that bond

monomers together Plastics (polypropylene)…capable of being

molded or shaped…plastics can be recycled