Day 7 Biological Molecules
Biological Molecules
-Organic- is any molecule that contains a carbon atom
-Inorganic- molecules without carbon and carbon dioxide
This is an optional video. Watch it if you want a more detailed explanation of biological molecules.
Chart of Functional Groups
Attached to the carbon atom in organic molecules are functional groups
The functional groups determine the characteristics of the molecule
Biological molecules are macromolecules
Macromolecules means large molecules
Large molecules only exist because something living made them. They do not happen on their own. Macromolecules are put together and built through chemical processes by living organisms.
There are four types of macromolecules
1) Carbohydrates
2) Lipids
3) Proteins
4) Nucleotides/nucleic acid
Watch this video on Biological Molecules. Take notes and be prepared to answer questions about what a biological molecules is and where they come from.
One piece of an organic molecule is called a monomer
-Monomer- one subunit of a biological molecule
-Polymer- a chain of monomers
Monomers are attached to make a polymer through a process called dehydration synthesis
When two monomers are joined together they attach at the functional group Hydroxyl which is an OH. When they attach at this point they share an oxygen but they lose H2O and a water molecule falls away. This is why it is called dehydration synthesis...because it is losing a water.
-Polymers are broken apart into monomers through a process called hydrolysis
In order to break two monomers, water has to be added so the monomers can go back to having their own OH Hydroxyl functional group. Because the water is cutting the monomers apart it is called hydrolysis. Hydro means water and lysis means to cut.
Watch this video on monomers and polymers. Take notes and be prepared to answer questions about what is a monomer and polymer. Also be able to explain how monomers join to form polymers and how polymers get cut into monomers.