Notes:

PHYSICS: BIOMOLECULES

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS HAVE PLENTY USES IN LIFE

Organic compounds are substances that contain carbon, usually in

combination with elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen,
halogens and phosphorus. Organic compounds have the following
properties:
a. they have covalent bonds
b. they have low melting and boiling points
c. they burn vigorously
d. they are soluble in nonpolar solvents
e. they form large molecules of organic compounds.

Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen. These are
a. Alkanes
b. Alkenes
c. Alkynes
d. Aromatics

Alkanes are hydrocarbons that only have single

bonds.
Every carbon atom in an alkane is bonded to four
atoms which is why it is known as saturated
hydrocarbon.

Alkenes contain one or more double bonds called

unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Organic compounds comprise most of the things that you use in daily life.

Examples are gasoline, medicine, shampoo, plastic bottles, perfumes, fabric such as
cotton and silk, and even synthetic compounds such as polyester and nylon. The food that
you eat is also organic.

Presently, millions of organic compounds are prepared in laboratories. Before, scientist believe
organic compounds are always naturally occurring; now, organic compounds can be prepared by
synthesizing them in the laboratory.

CARBON’S SPECIAL PROPERTIES ENABLE IT TO FORM MYRIAD OF COMPOUNDS

Remember!

Recall that organic compounds are made up primarily of carbons. Carbon has a special place in
chemistry because of its ability to form many different compounds. Carbon can bond with another
carbon and form change and carbon can accommodate elements other than carbon and hydrogen
in its structure. Also, carbon can accommodate functional groups and it can form multiple bonds.
Carbon’s position in the periodic table gives in the following unique characteristics:
1. The electronic configuration of carbon prohibits ion formation effectively

2. The small atomic radius of carbon allows that atoms to approach one other closely giving rise to
a stronger carbon-carbon bond and stable compound

3. The valence electrons of carbon are in a second shell where there is no d orbital that can be
occupied or attached by lone pairs from other substances resulting in a chemical reaction.

BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES

There are more complex biomolecules. These are organic substances that are found in food such
as meat and vegetables. Some are found in the body parts such as blood and
muscles.Biomolecules are large molecules called macromolecules or polymers. They are
composed of many small organic molecules that link up to form a long chain. Some of these
biological molecules are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins.

CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates are also called

saccharides which means sugar. Table
sugar, lactose, and cellulose are made
of C H and O in the formulas of
(CH2O2)6. Energy from sunlight is used
to combine CO2 and H2O into simple
carbohydrates such as glucose plus
oxygen.

The simplest carbohydrates are monosaccharides.Disaccharides are two monosaccharides join

together with polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates. When disaccharides react with
water,they can be completely hydrolyzed to yield monosaccharides units.

Three common Disaccharides:

1. Glucose + Glucose = Maltose
Example: Product of Starch Digestion
2. Glucose + Galactose = Lactose
Example: Major sugar in Milk (Yogurt)
3. Glucose + Fructose = Sucrose
Example: Common Table Sugar

CARBOHYDRATES
Common sugars with the same molecular
formula C6H12O6.

Glucose, "blood sugar", the immediate

source of energy for cellular respiration.

Galactose, a sugar in milk (and yogurt)

Fructose, a sugar found in honey.

Glucose, galactose, and fructose are

"single" sugars or monosaccharides.

LIPIDS

Lipids belong to the family of biomolecules. A common property of liquids is their being soluble
in organic solvents but not in water.

Lipid comes from Greek word “lipos” meaning fat or lard. Lipid from plant cells can be extracted
using organic solvent such as ether, chloroform or acetone. It is important in cell membrane, fat
soluble vitamins, and steroid hormones.
 Lipids are a heterogeneous class of naturally occurring organic substances grouped together
on the basis of common solubility properties not by functional or structural group.

Lipids are all insoluble in polar solvents like water but highly soluble in the non-polar or weakly
polar organic solvents, including ether, chloroform, benzene, and acetone. In fact, these four
solvents are often referred to as "lipid-solvents" or "fat-solvents". Other biomolecules are largely
insoluble in these solvents.

Lipids are widely distributed in both animal and plant systems and perform a wide variety of
functions. These include energy storage, structural components (e.g., cell membranes), vitamins,
metabolism regulators (e.g., steroid hormones), and emulsifying agents.

NUCLEIC ACID PROTEINS

Nucleic acids are molecules in our cells that

store and direct information for cellular growth
and reproduction.

When genetic information is altered and

incorrect information is transmitted to the
ribosome, it leads to the formation of defective
proteins and malfunctioning enzymes. This will
result to genetic mutations.
PROTEINS

Proteins come from the word “proteios” which means first. It is made of amino acids. It
provides structure in membranes, builds cartilages and connective tissues, transports oxygen in
blood and muscles, directs biological reactions as enzymes, defends the body against infection,
and controls metabolic processes as hormones. Some proteins organic in structure like insulin,
hemoglobin, virus proteins, and enzymes.

All proteins are polymers made up of about 20 different kinds of amino acids arranged in a
specific order that determines the characteristics of the proteins and their biological functions.

Enzymes are proteins acting as biological catalyst in the cells of the body. They help facilitate the
digestion of food, contract muscles and produced by molecules and energy needed for survival.

There are different types of proteins. There are storage proteins like casein, structural proteins like
collagen, contractile proteins likely myosin, hormones like insulin and growth hormones, enzymes
like sucrose, trypsin and hydrogenase, and antibodies like immune globulin.
LESSON LEARNED!

Organic compounds comprise most of the things that we use in daily. Most of the organic
compounds can be synthesized in the laboratory.

 Carbohydrates can be also called saccharides or sugar. It can be monosaccharides such as

glucose, galactose and fructose and disaccharides such as sucrose.

 Lipids could be in a form like energy storage, structural components (cell membranes),
vitamins, metabolism regulators (steroid hormones) and emulsifying agents.

 Nucleic acids are where our genetic information is stored and if genetic information is altered it
could result to mutation.

 All proteins are polymers made up of about 20 Different kinds of Amino Acids (9 essential and
11 non-essential amino acids). It is responsible for structural component, act as chemical
messenger, defense against disease, and act as enzymes.